In the amphibian Pleurodeles waltl, steroid hormones play a key role in sex differentiation. Since cadmium has been reported to block receptors of sex steroid hormones, we analyzed the effects of this heavy metal on Pleurodeles larvae gonadogenesis. At stage 42, larvae die in the presence of 10.9 µM Cd in the rearing tap water, with TL50 of 46.3 h, but the concentration of 5.5 µM is tolerated for more than 60 days. When used at 5.5 µM cadmium accumulation measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) in total homogenates of larvae at stage 54 (after 77 days of exposure to the heavy metal) reached 58.1 µg/g of dry weight. At stage 54, we did not detect inhibitory effects on gonadogenesis in larvae reared in the presence of 5.5 µM Cd since stage 42. When the exposure to 5.5 µM Cd was lengthened after stage 54, metamorphosis was delayed and could not be completed. When larvae were exposed to 10.9 µM Cd from stage 54, metamorphosis did not occur and gonad development was stopped. Our study demonstrates a lack of a direct effect of cadmium on sex determination-differentiation but a strong inhibitory effect on metamorphosis, which impairs further gonadal development.