Life Cycle Of Animals And Their Babies

Every animal starts out life as an egg produced by a female. Most eggs that develop into adult animals have been fertilized with sperm produced by a male. There are exceptions, though. Worker Honeybees, for example, lay eggs that are never fertilized; they develop into male bees called drones. The fertilized eggs of vertebrate animals develop into embryos. In Mammals, except for the platypus these grow inside the female's body, developing organs and limbs over time until she gives birth to live young. This is also the case for some fish and reptiles. But for most, and for all birds and amphibians, their young develop inside eggs laid by females.

After an animal is born, it must learn to survive in the wild. Some learn by imitating their parents, whereas others must fend for themselves. The animal grows until it reaches maturity. At this point, it is ready to mate producing an offspring of its own and enabling another life cycle to begin.