Morphological changes

Regressive changes-These changes include the gradual reduction and ultimate disappearance of all those larval structures or organs that become redundant in adults. The ventral suckers, external gills, the long tail along with fin folds are reabsorbed during early functional life. The peribranchial cavities, the gill clafts are closed; the horny teeth and horny lining of the jaws are lost. The shape of the mouth changes, the cloacal tube shortens and gets reduced. The lateral line organs of the skin of tadpole disappear and some blood vessels are reduced.

Progressive changes-A number of organs and structures become functional during and after metamorphosis. In the anurans these alters are tabulated in Table and include the development of the fore and the hind limbs, the middle ear in connection with the first pharyngeal pouch (the pouch situated among the mandibular and hyoid arches), the tympanic membrane supported through the circular tympanic cartilage. The eye protrudes on the dorsal surface of the head and makes an upper eyelid. The tongue develops from the floor of the mouth.

Remodeling -Some structures and organs that occur and function both before and after metamorphoses, get transformed or remodeled throughout the process in order to meet the requirement of the adult mode of life. These changes, affect primarily the skin, intestine and brain. The skin thickens, and turns into glandular by developing multicellular mucous and serous glands. It also develops an outer keratinized layer also characteristic color and pattern of pigmentation. The brain gets highly differentiated. The intestine that was long and coiled in the herbivorous tadpole shortens and straightens out: Other notable changes which take place are the change in the blood vascular system in order to supply the lungs, the change in the portal system the alteration in the heart as it becomes three chambered from being two chambered earlier.