Change in the shape and form of an animal that it undergoes during its development from an egg to the adult form is called metamorphosis. There are two types of metamorphosis, complete metamorphosis and incomplete metamorphosis. Four stages of metamorphosis are also provided here.
Example
Insects, frogs, etc.
Type of metamorphosis
Metamorphosis is of two types.
1.Complete metamorphosis
2.incomplete metamorphosis
Complete metamorphosis
The process of complete metamorphosis completes in four stages i.e.
Egg → Larva → pupa →adult
Egg
The adult female insect lays eggs.
Larva:
The young one, the larva hatches out of the egg is completely different from adults. It feeds actively and moves about.
Pupa:
After storing food inside the body it encloses itself in a cover to become a pupa.
Adult ;
After going through further changes, the pupa comes out of the capsule, it is now termed as an adult, because it resembles its parents
Example
- Mosquito
- Housefly
- Butterfly
Incomplete metamorphosis
Process of incomplete metamorphosis consists of three developmental stages i.e.
Egg → nymph → adult
Egg:
The adult female insect lays eggs.
Nymph: the miniature young one, called nymph emerges out of egg which closely resembles the adult. It lacks wings and has immature reproductive organs.
Adult: after the development of wings and maturity of reproductive organs, the nymph becomes adult.
Example
- Cockroach
- Honey bee
- Termite
See also: Characteristics of mammals
