Life Cycles of Animals Flashcards

Grade 3 · Science · Flashcards

Review key vocabulary and concepts about animal life cycles.

Flashcards

life cycle: The series of stages an animal passes through from birth to death
metamorphosis: A dramatic change in body form during an animal's development
complete metamorphosis: Four-stage life cycle: egg → larva → pupa → adult
incomplete metamorphosis: Three-stage life cycle: egg → nymph → adult
egg: The first stage in most animal life cycles, containing a developing embryo
larva: The worm-like or caterpillar stage after hatching in complete metamorphosis
pupa: The transformation stage where a larva becomes an adult insect
chrysalis: The hard case that forms around a butterfly during its pupa stage
nymph: The juvenile stage in incomplete metamorphosis — looks like a small adult
tadpole: The aquatic larval stage of a frog or toad
gills: Organs that tadpoles and fish use to breathe oxygen from water
adult: The final stage of the life cycle when an animal can reproduce
cocoon: A silky protective case that moth caterpillars spin around themselves during the pupa stage
juvenile: A young animal that looks like its parents but is not yet fully grown