Animal Life Cycles - Free Printable

Task: Match each stage of the life cycles (butterfly, fish, frog, human) with its correct description.

#### Butterfly Life Cycle
1. Most of the feeding takes place, young stage.
- This describes the Larva stage, where the caterpillar feeds and grows.
- Answer: C Larva

2. Inactive stage, growing, often well-camouflaged.
- This describes the Pupa stage, where the caterpillar transforms into a chrysalis.
- Answer: D Pupa

3. The unborn stage.
- This describes the Egg stage, where the butterfly begins its life cycle.
- Answer: B Egg

4. The final stage, breeding, usually grow wings.
- This describes the Adult stage, where the butterfly is fully grown and capable of reproduction.
- Answer: A Adult

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#### Fish Life Cycle
5. Laid by the female into the water column, fertilized by a male.
- This describes the Eggs stage, where the female lays eggs that are fertilized by the male.
- Answer: F Eggs

6. Lay eggs or fertilize eggs and the fish life cycle begins again.
- This describes the Adult Fish stage, where mature fish reproduce to start the cycle anew.
- Answer: E Adult Fish

7. Spend large amounts of time in the water, eaten by predators.
- This describes the Larvae stage, where the newly hatched fish are vulnerable to predators.
- Answer: H Larvae

8. Survivors develop and continue to grow, often called fry.
- This describes the Juvenile Fish stage, where the young fish grow before reaching adulthood.
- Answer: G Juvenile Fish

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#### Frog Life Cycle
9. Develops in the egg, breaks open, it swims out, has gills.
- This describes the Tadpole stage, where the frog starts as an aquatic larva with gills.
- Answer: M Tadpole

10. Body changes, prepares for life outside of water, develops hind legs.
- This describes the Froglet stage, where the tadpole undergoes metamorphosis and develops hind legs.
- Answer: L Froglet

11. Male fertilizes them in jelly-like fluid.
- This describes the Eggs stage, where the male fertilizes the eggs laid by the female.
- Answer: J Eggs

12. Loses tail, fully developed, lives out of the water, ready to breed.
- This describes the Frog stage, where the frog is fully mature and can live on land.
- Answer: K Frog

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#### Human Life Cycle
13. Becomes more mature, life cycle begins again.
- This describes the Adolescent stage, where physical and emotional maturity occurs.
- Answer: N Adolescent

14. Before age 13 and after infancy.
- This describes the Child stage, which typically occurs between infancy and adolescence.
- Answer: R Child

15. Largest changes include puberty and sexual development.
- This describes the Adolescent stage, where significant physical and hormonal changes occur.
- Answer: N Adolescent

16. Egg produced and is fertilized in the female.
- This describes the Before Birth stage, where fertilization occurs and the embryo develops.
- Answer: Q Before Birth

17. Must depend on a parent for care, have more bones than adults.
- This describes the Baby stage, where the infant relies on parents for care and has more cartilage that eventually ossifies into bone.
- Answer: P Baby

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Final Answer:

- Butterfly:
1. C, 2. D, 3. B, 4. A

- Fish:
5. F, 6. E, 7. H, 8. G

- Frog:
9. M, 10. L, 11. J, 12. K

- Human:
13. N, 14. R, 15. N, 16. Q, 17. P

Boxed Final Answer:
$$
\boxed{
\text{Butterfly: 1-C, 2-D, 3-B, 4-A; Fish: 5-F, 6-E, 7-H, 8-G; Frog: 9-M, 10-L, 11-J, 12-K; Human: 13-N, 14-R, 15-N, 16-Q, 17-P}
}
$$