Reproduction
Reproduction
Animals can live happily all their lives, growing, eating and moving around, but if they don't reproduce (make babies) they won't have anything to show for themselves in the future - their species will quickly die out.
All animals reproduce.
Human babies develop within their mother for nine months before they are born. They grow into children, adolescents, and eventually, adults.
Not all animals reproduce in the same way
Birds lay hard-shelled eggs that hatch and produce helpless chicks.
Marsupial mammals, like kangaroos give birth to tiny babies (about the size of jelly babies) that spend a long time in their mother's pouch before they are developed enough to survive outside.
What about frogs? Probably one of the most amazing ways of reproducing - and you can see it in your garden pond every year.
Have a look at the frog's life cycle on the right. How does it differ from the human life cycle?
Click on the images to find out more.
Asexual reproduction
If you think the frog's way of doing things is a bit strange, imagine this: not all animals need two parents to reproduce.
Amazingly, some animals like sponges and the fresh water jelly fish Hydra can sprout babies like buds growing out of the body of the parent. This is a type of asexual reproduction.
Can you imagine if your mum did this?
