Leg Swelling in Tadpole

[BWSmith]

We pulled this tadpole out this afternoon. He has severe edema of both hind limbs and some on his lower jaw. It doesn't look like standard Dropsy. Any logical ideas on what this could be?

[Reptscue]

ouch!
Sorry I can't help, but wow. I'd be interested in what it is also.

[Ptorgeaux]

I've actually seen several bullfrog tadpoles similar to that that were taken from a wastewater treatment wetland in Clayton County, GA. These tadpoles also have calcified nodules and other deformities. An unpublished study relates them to proximity to the waste discharge point in the wetland, however the direct cause isn't known. As to whether the nodules and the swelling you show here are interrelated, I don't know.