Life Cycles of Animals — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word on the line.
1. The four stages of a butterfly's life cycle are egg, caterpillar, chrysalis, and butterfly.
The adult butterfly is the final stage of the butterfly's four-stage life cycle.
2. A caterpillar is also called a larva.
A caterpillar is also called a larva, which is the second stage of complete metamorphosis.
3. A frog's life cycle begins when it hatches from an egg in the water.
A frog's life cycle begins when it hatches from an egg that was laid in the water by an adult frog.
4. A tadpole slowly grows legs and becomes a young frog called a froglet.
A froglet is a young frog that has grown legs and is beginning to look like an adult frog.
5. The big change a butterfly goes through is called metamorphosis.
Metamorphosis is the process of a big body change that some animals go through as they grow from young to adult.
6. A chicken begins life inside an egg that the hen keeps warm.
A chicken begins life inside an egg, and the hen sits on it to keep it warm until the chick hatches.
7. After a chick hatches, it grows feathers and becomes a juvenile chicken.
A juvenile chicken is a young bird that has grown feathers but is not yet a fully grown adult.
8. A tadpole breathes underwater using gills.
A tadpole breathes underwater using gills, just like a fish, before it develops lungs as it grows into a frog.
9. When a caterpillar is ready to change, it forms a hard shell called a chrysalis.
A chrysalis is the hard protective shell a caterpillar forms around itself during the pupa stage of its life cycle.
Part B: Match the Life Cycle Stage
Draw a line from each life cycle stage to its description.
1. Match each life cycle stage to its description.
Egg
→ The first stage of the life cycle
The adult stage that can fly
Caterpillar
→ The larva stage that eats leaves
The first stage of the life cycle
Chrysalis
→ The hard shell where the change happens
The hard shell where the change happens
Butterfly
→ The adult stage that can fly
The larva stage that eats leaves
Egg is the first stage where life begins. Caterpillar is the larva stage that eats leaves to grow. Chrysalis is the hard shell where metamorphosis occurs. Butterfly is the adult stage that can fly and lay new eggs.