Plate 71 from Merian's 'Insectorum Surinamensium' showing metamorphosis from tadpole to frog

This image by Merian was created to demonstrate to the reader of 'Mariae Sibillae Merian Dissertatio de generatione et metamorphosibus insectorum Surinamensium' the process of capturing what she observed in the field.

This illustration is from a second edition copy, and was printed after Merian's death in 1717, and depicts the process of metamorphosis from tadpole to frog.

Full title: 'Mariae Sibillae Merian Dissertatio de generatione et metamorphosibus insectorum Surinamensium: in quâ, praeter vermes & erucas Surinamenses, earumque admirandam metamorphosin, plantae, flores & fructus, quibus vescuntur, & in quibus fuerunt inventae, exhibentur : his adjunguntur bufones, lacerti, serpentes, araneae, aliaque admiranda istius regionis animalcula'