Animal Life Cycles

All animals go through a life cycle. Some animals are born live, while others hatch from eggs. Baby animals grow and change until they become adults. Then they can have babies of their own, and the cycle starts again.

Born or Hatched

Mammals like dogs and horses are born live from their mothers. Birds, reptiles, and most fish hatch from eggs. Some animals are tiny when they are born. A baby kangaroo is only the size of a jellybean when it is born.

Growing Up

Young animals grow in different ways. Some look like mini adults right away. Others look completely different from their parents. A caterpillar looks nothing like the butterfly it will become. A tadpole does not look like the frog it will grow into.

Fun Facts

• A baby blue whale gains about 200 pounds every single day.
• Baby elephants can stand up within one hour of being born.
• Some shark species have babies that develop inside eggs within the mother's body.

Did You Know?

Emperor penguin dads balance their egg on their feet for about two months in freezing cold weather while the mom goes to find food!