While the precise mechanism of shrinkage in Pseudis paradoxa (Paradoxical frog) is unclear, the change occurs mostly during metamorphosis, a complex cellular/molecular event in the life of any organism. But interestingly, the growth rate of P.paradoxa tadpoles is similar to that of other tropical tadpoles--they just continue to grow long after most other frogs would have undergone metamorphosis. Several organs (lungs, skin, intestines, and gonads) of these 'baby- adult' P.paradoxa tadpoles also look microscopically like adult tissues, indicating that these tadpoles might gain some ecological advantage by doing some of their adult development in the juvenile (tadpole) stage. More access to food and decreased risk of getting eaten by predators are likely possible reasons, but further study is needed to verify them.