Animal Life Cycles
What Is a Life Cycle?
A life cycle shows how a living thing grows, changes, and reproduces throughout its life. All animals go through different stages as they grow—this is called their life cycle.
But not all animals (or plants!) have the same life cycle. Some go through simple changes, while others go through dramatic transformations called metamorphosis.
Animal vs. Plant Life Cycles
Most animal life cycles begin with a fertilized egg, which grows and matures into an adult. The adult then reproduces, and the cycle repeats.
Plant life cycles often start with a seed or spore, growing into a mature plant, which then produces new seeds.
What is Metamorphosis -
Metamorphosis is a big change in an animal’s body from one stage to the next during its life cycle.
For example:
- A tadpole turns into a froglet, then grows into an adult frog.
- A caterpillar transforms into a chrysalis, and then into a butterfly.
What is Complete Metamorphosis (4 Stages)
It is a type of metamorphosis in which an organism goes through FOUR different stages: egg, larva, pupa, adult. Butterfly is the example of Complete Metamorphosis.
Egg → Larva → Pupa → Adult
🦋 Example: Butterfly
What is Incomplete Metamorphosis (3 Stages)
It is a type of metamorphosis in which an organism goes through THREE different stages: egg, nymph and adult. Grasshopper life cycle is an example of Incomplete Metamorphosis.
Egg → Nymph → Adult
🦗 Example: Grasshopper
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