Ask A Scientist Zoology Archive

name         Anne P.
 status       educator
age          50s

Question -   A student found a fist-sized gelatinous ball in a 
 wet-weather stream in the country, Washington County, Georgia. Inside the 
 ball are approximately 30-40 smaller gelatinous egg sacs with a single 
 embryo in each sac. A couple of the sacs have escaped the larger ball and 
 the clearly defined smaller sacs can be seen with the naked eye. Although 
 the embryos resemble tiny tadpoles, they appear much smaller and thinner. 
 I have never seen frog or toad eggs contained in such a larger sac. Is 
 this another amphibian, a fish, an insect or what? Can you tell me 
 anything about such a mass? Thanks for your help! 172 fifth graders are 
 looking for an answer!
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I have no idea, but this web site on Georgia amphibians might help.
http://www.gwf.org/commonamphibians.htm

J. Elliott
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