Tadpoles are the larval stage of amphibians, primarily frogs and toads. They are aquatic and typically have a streamlined body, a long tail for swimming, and no legs. Tadpoles breathe through gills and feed on algae and plant matter in their environment. As they grow, they undergo metamorphosis, gradually developing legs and losing their tails. During metamorphosis, tadpoles transition from water to land. They develop lungs for breathing air and their diet changes to include insects and other small animals. This transformation is crucial for their survival as they mature into adult frogs or toads, capable of living both in water and on land.