Life Cycles of Animals — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word on the line.
1. A grasshopper has three life cycle stages: egg, nymph, and adult.
The adult is the final stage of a grasshopper's three-stage life cycle, which is called incomplete metamorphosis.
2. A young grasshopper that looks like a small adult is called a nymph.
A nymph is a young grasshopper that looks like a smaller version of the adult but does not have full wings yet.
3. A salmon begins life as an egg laid in a river or stream.
A salmon begins life as an egg laid in a river or stream, where the water is fresh and flowing.
4. Baby salmon swim to the ocean where they grow into adults.
Baby salmon swim downstream to the ocean where they spend most of their adult life growing bigger.
5. A baby dog is called a puppy.
A baby dog is called a puppy. Dogs are mammals that are born live instead of hatching from eggs.
6. Unlike butterflies, grasshoppers do not go through a pupa stage.
Grasshoppers do not have a pupa stage because they go through incomplete metamorphosis, skipping the chrysalis step.
7. Dogs are born live and do not hatch from eggs.
Dogs are mammals, so their babies are born live and do not hatch from eggs like birds or reptiles.
8. A grasshopper nymph sheds its outer skin several times as it grows.
A grasshopper nymph sheds its outer skin, called molting, several times as it grows bigger before becoming an adult.
9. Adult salmon swim back to the same river where they were born to lay eggs.
Adult salmon swim back to the same river where they were born to lay their eggs and continue the life cycle.
Part B: Match the Life Cycle Stage
Draw a line from each animal to the name of its young.
1. Match each animal to the name of its young.
Frog
→ Tadpole
Nymph
Dog
→ Puppy
Chick
Chicken
→ Chick
Tadpole
Grasshopper
→ Nymph
Puppy
Frog → Tadpole because a baby frog is a tadpole that lives in water. Dog → Puppy because a baby dog is called a puppy. Chicken → Chick because a baby chicken is called a chick. Grasshopper → Nymph because a young grasshopper is called a nymph.