The metamorphotic degeneration of the larval tail of anuran tadpoles was investigated for tissue-typical aspects and for correspondences or similarities with histopathological findings in human diseases. For this purpose, in ten species the premetamorphotic morphology and metamorphotic degeneration of cells and tissues in the larval tail was examined light- and electron-microscopically. Metamorphotic degeneration and lysis occurs in a tissue-specific manner. Thereby, filaments in notochord- and epidermis-cells as well as in the cross-striated musculature can aggregate to a variety of different "compact bodies". These bodies decompose or are taken up by phagocytizing cells. Collagen fibrils and filaments are completely dissolved. Lysed larval tail tissues are resorbed. During evolution, tissue typical degeneration patterns have developed in anuran tadpoles and, despite systematic differences, these are also recognizable in histopathological findings of human diseases, notably myopathies. Structure analyses of tissue degradation in metamorphosing anuran tadpoles may well be applicable as suitable experimental models for investigating the causes and courses of human diseases.