What is Metamorphosis?
Metamorphosis can be defined as a biological process in which immature form of an animal physically develops after birth or hatching in two or more distinct stages. In metamorphosis the young ones hatch from the eggs look very different from the adult. For example the young one of frog or silkmoth looks very different from the adult frog or silkmoth respectively.The young of such animals are called as larvae.In metamorphosis animals body structure significantly changes in each stage .
Which animals goes through Metamorphosis?
Metamorphosis occurs in amphibians such as frogs , toads etc and in most of the invertebrates including insects such as Silk moth, Butterfly, house fly, mosquito etc .
What are the Types of metamorphosis?
There are two types of metamorphosis-
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Simple Metamorphosis or Incomplete Metamorphosis
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Complete Metamorphosis
Simple Metamorphosis or Incomplete Metamorphosis.
- In simple metamorphosis there are three important stages, they are
Egg
Nymph
Adult - The nymph in simple metamorphosis or incomplete metamorphosis resembles as an adult but with underdeveloped wings.
- In simple metamorphosis some part of exoskeleton remains throughout the lifetime
former stages of the insect are reproductively successful - Example of insects goes through the process of simple metamorphosis are Cockroaches praying Mantis termites etc.
Complete metamorphosis
Complete metamorphosis contains 4 stages
Egg
Larva
Pupa
Adult
- In this type of metamorphosis the egg develops into immature tadpole or larva which gradually undergoes many drastic changes in appearance before it forms an adult.
- The egg, Larva, Pupa an adult doesn’t resemble the adult.
- In complete metamorphosis the larva stage is very active and eats a lot of food. And the Pupa its inactive.
- The exoskeleton in complete metamorphosis is completely sheded or molted .
- Example of complete metamorphosis
butterflies, frog ,mosquitoes, moths, bees etc.
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