Tadpole Coloration and Predation

The authors of this article argue that in order to avoid predation, neotropical tadpoles exhibit several colorations. To test this hypothesis, researchers tested the effectiveness of predator avoidance in two amphibian species, Bokermannohyla martinsi--whose coloration is aposematic--and Ololygon machadoi--whose coloration immitates that of a water-living insect species. Conducting both in situ and ex situ experiments in which the two tadpole species were placed against a variety of background colors, researchers noted that O. machadoi suffered higher predation rates than O. machadoi. Researchers conclude that although predation by birds is occasional, tadpole coloration may impact the rates of predation on these two species of amphibians.

The link to the article can be found here

-Leanne