Nature^101
FIND OUT MORE. Amphibians 114–115 • Insects 110–111 • Mammals 120–123
4 ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION
A sea anemone divides to
form two individuals. Some
insects, such as aphids,
can also reproduce
asexually, when
their unfertilized
eggs develop
into young.PUMA FAMILY 2
Female mammals look after their young and feed
them on a rich, nutritious food – milk. Some
mammal babies take only a few weeks
to grow up. Puma cubs stay with
their mother for two years,
learning how to hunt
for themselves.Reproduction
All animals produce offspring so their species can continue.
Some animals reproduce sexually, by mating with a partner;
others reproduce asexually, without mating. Animals grow
up in different ways, including by. METAMORPHOSIS.
Care of offspring varies – some young fend for themselves.
BORN INDEPENDENT 1
Young snakes are on their own
from the moment they hatch.
Snakes lay large numbers of eggs
so that at least some of their
offspring make it to adulthood.1 LADYBIRD LIFE CYCLE
Like all beetles, ladybirds
go through complete
metamorphosis, changing
directly from their larval
to their adult form.METAMORPHOSIS
Some baby animals are miniature copies
of their adult relatives, but some look
nothing like their parents. They go through
an amazing transformation, known as a
metamorphosis, before they reach adulthood.- Adult 7-spot
ladybird lays
groups of eggs
on leaves - Dormant
(sleeping) pupa
formed by each larva
a month after hatching
WHY DO SOME ANIMALS GIVE
BIRTH RATHER THAN LAY EGGS?
Animals born live are more likely
to survive than those that hatch
out of eggs. While developing
inside their mother, babies are at
less risk of being eaten than eggs.HOW DO ANIMALS ATTRACT MATES?
During the breeding season, animals advertise their
readiness to mate by using special calls, scents, and
other signals. Some animals use elaborate displays or
courtship rituals to woo a wary mate. A few creatures,
such as earthworms, are hermaphrodite (both male
and female), which makes it easier to find a mate.WHY LOOK AFTER YOUNG?
Animals care for offspring
to improve their chances of
survival. More of these babies
survive to adulthood than those
whose parents leave them to fend
for themselves.WHAT IS COMPLETE METAMORPHOSIS?
Complete metamorphosis is the change in one step from
larva to adult. Moths and butterflies undergo complete
metamorphosis. Their caterpillars feed and grow, then
enter a resting stage as pupae. Inside the pupal case,
the caterpillar transforms into a winged adult. The way
tadpoles become frogs is also complete metamorphosis.- Larva hatches
after a week - New adult
emerges after
one week
Emerging
dragonfly
breaking out
of its old skinBaby snake looks
like tiny version
of the adultEmpty case
left behind
on plant stemSnake egg
has leathery,
waterproof shellEMERGING DRAGONFLY 3
Young dragonflies shed their
skin several times as they grow,
emerging from their last moult as
adults. Gradual change like this is
called incomplete metamorphosis.reproduction