Life Cycles

Every living thing goes through a life cycle. A life cycle is the set of stages an organism passes through during its lifetime. It begins when life starts and ends when the organism dies. Most life cycles include being born, growing up, reproducing, and aging.

Stages of Life

Most living things go through similar stages. They are born or hatch from an egg. Then they grow and develop into adults. Adults can reproduce and create new life. The cycle then starts all over again with a new generation.

Different Kinds of Life Cycles

Not all life cycles are the same. Some animals change their whole body shape as they grow. This is called metamorphosis. Butterflies and frogs go through metamorphosis. Other animals, like dogs and cats, look like smaller versions of their parents when they are born.

Fun Facts

• Some jellyfish can reverse their life cycle and become young again.
• The mayfly has one of the shortest adult life stages, living only one or two days.
• A giant tortoise can live over 150 years, giving it one of the longest life cycles of any animal.

Did You Know?

Some plants complete their entire life cycle in just a few weeks, while others like bristlecone pine trees can live for over 5,000 years!