Animal Life Cycles
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What you will learn
- 1Sequence the stages of a butterfly life cycle
- 2Compare the life cycles of a butterfly and a frog
Mini Lesson
Animals also go through life cycles — a series of stages from birth to adulthood. Some animals change dramatically in form as they grow, a process called metamorphosis. The butterfly and the frog are two well-known examples of animals that go through metamorphosis.
Butterfly Life Cycle
- Egg — a female butterfly lays eggs on leaves.
- Larva (caterpillar) — the egg hatches into a caterpillar that eats and grows.
- Pupa (chrysalis) — the caterpillar forms a protective case and transforms inside.
- Adult butterfly — emerges from the chrysalis, can fly, and lays new eggs.
Frog Life Cycle
- Eggs — the frog lays clusters of eggs in water.
- Tadpole — the eggs hatch into tadpoles that breathe with gills and live in water.
- Froglet — tadpoles grow legs and begin to develop lungs.
- Adult frog — can breathe air and move between land and water.
Words to know
Metamorphosis
A dramatic change in body form during an animal's life cycle.
Larva
The young, worm-like stage of an insect after hatching from an egg.
Pupa
The resting stage in an insect's life during which it transforms into an adult.
Both butterflies and frogs go through metamorphosis — four distinct stages. The key difference is that frogs start life fully in water and gradually move to land.
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