Metamorphosis Facts & Worksheets

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In biology, metamorphosis is a dramatic transformation an organism undergoes soon after birth. These transitions are governed by hormones known as molting and juvenile hormones. Changes in physiology, biochemistry, and behavior occur concurrently with these structural abnormalities and those associated with growth and differentiation.

See the fact file below for more information on Metamorphosis, or you can download our 32-page Metamorphosis worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

Definition

• During metamorphosis, animals drastically alter their appearance soon after birth. When an organism undergoes transition, its entire body plan may change, including the number of legs it has, how it eats, and how it breathes. Metamorphosis is often necessary for sexual maturity in organisms that use it. Pre-metamorphic members of these species are often unable to mate or reproduce.
• Fish, mollusks, and many more sea species with insect, mollusk, or fish ancestry are only some animals that undergo a metamorphosis that you might not know. Similar to insects, lobsters change at some point in their lives.
• The process of metamorphosis is very astounding. Seeing how quickly and thoroughly cells can develop and specialize is incredible. 
• Most organisms undergo their most dramatic growth rate during embryonic development and several cell types. Some researchers have hypothesized that metamorphosis involves the reactivation of genes that usually suppress the ability of cells to differentiate into different types in animals.
• In preparation for metamorphosis, the animal’s body secretes hormones that create a cascade of morphological changes. 
• In some animals, once a trigger hormone is released, a series of additional hormones are released and begin to exert their effects on the animal. Hormones trigger dramatic shifts in cellular function and behavior, as shown in the caterpillar’s decision to create a cocoon.
• Hormones can be experimentally administered to pre-metamorphic animals to study their effects on the transition. Thyroid hormones added to a pond can cause tadpoles to shed their tails and develop their legs ahead of schedule. The animal’s health will suffer as a result of this, sadly.

Types

• When animals reach a new developmental stage, they undergo metamorphosis, which involves a transformation in appearance and behavior. There are two types of insect development, complete and incomplete transition, in which the insect’s body shape shifts at different stages of its life cycle. 
• Transformation can be either complete or incomplete from the egg to the adult. In insects, complete metamorphosis comprises four stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

Complete Metamorphosis

• When undergoing complete metamorphosis, a larva remodels its body to fit the needs of its adult form. The most well-known transition involves the butterfly, which changes from a worm-like, leaf-eating caterpillar into a winged, nectar-drinking insect with an exoskeleton.
• The term “holometabolous” derives from the Greek for “holo” or “complete,” “meta” for “change,” and “bole” for “to throw,” and is used to describe organisms that go through a complete metamorphosis. Therefore, “holometabolous” denotes “wholly changing” or “totally changing.”
• Because of how quickly and thoroughly it occurs, the caterpillar must spin a cocoon and hibernate for several weeks before emerging as a butterfly. Beetles, flies, moths, ants, and bees are just a few species that undergo a metamorphosis from a worm-like larval stage into an entirely different adult form. The larval stage has been hypothesized to have evolved from insects that failed to fully grow after hatching from their eggs. Some of these embryos may have matured into juveniles and then been able to find food in the wild, providing them a potential evolutionary edge.

Incomplete Metamorphosis

• Incomplete metamorphosis occurs when just specific organs or tissues transform. The term “hemimetabolous” refers to organisms that undergo only partial metamorphosis during development. The word derives from the Greek for “hemi” for “half,” “meta,” for “change,” and  “bole” for “to throw.” Therefore, “hemimetabolous” means “half-changing.”
• Grasshoppers, dragonflies, and cockroaches, to name a few, emerge from their eggs looking much like their mature selves. While they do develop wings and functional reproductive organs, they do not undergo a complete physical transformation like their fully metamorphosing relatives.

Examples of Metamorphosis

Metamorphosis of Butterflies

• To think that a worm-like caterpillar can transform into a gorgeous butterfly after spending weeks encased in a cocoon is baffling. Yet the outwardly noticeable alterations, like the development of wings, fail to convey the true weirdness of this transformation.
• Caterpillars don’t only transform into butterflies or moths by emerging from their cocoons with legs, wings, and an exoskeleton. They develop adult reproductive organs, new eyes, and a nectar-sucking beak in place of their leaf-eating mouthparts. To undergo such a dramatic transformation, a caterpillar eats its own body. The metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly takes time, effort, and resources.
• Caterpillars break down a large portion of their bodies with enzymes to facilitate this transformation. The cocoon’s tough exterior is necessary for more than simply keeping the insect safe during its change; it also retains its liquefying body from oozing out of the cocoon. These enzymes do not entirely digest caterpillar cells. 
• Only the caterpillar’s imaginal discs and the soup they feed on are preserved. These imaginal discs develop into the butterfly’s mature body parts because they consume the proteins, vitamins, and minerals necessary to construct a butterfly.
• In comparison to the old body, the new one is radically different. It’s completely remade from the ground up, with brand new appendages, sense organs, exoskeleton, and reproductive system. 
• Its digestive mechanism has also changed, now processing nectar instead of leaf matter. In addition to the stunning wings, there are also some other features. This dramatic adaptation eliminates the needless conflict between adult butterflies and caterpillars for food, allowing the latter to complete their life cycle.
• Insects go through a very similar procedure. Adults emerge from their complex pupal cases with legs, exoskeletons, and other traits that bear little resemblance to the worm-like larva they were. Animals as diverse as bees, beetles, ants, and flies employ this tactic.

Metamorphosis of Frogs

• Although the transformation from tadpole to frog is less dramatic than from a caterpillar to a butterfly, there are still many similarities between the two processes. Tadpoles don’t turn into mush when they “digest,” but they get rid of their bodies. The tadpoles “command” the cells they no longer need to destroy their DNA and die via apoptosis, often known as “programmed cell death.” 
• Cells that have died are ingested by living ones for their nutrients and energy. Their tails are broken down, their cells are used to construct new legs, and their gills disappear as they transform into lungs that allow them to breathe air.
• It is interesting to note that the common ancestor of insects and amphibians diverged a long time ago and that the ancestors of modern insects are not thought to have metamorphosed. There can be no doubt that an evolutionary phenomenon is a beneficial adaptation when it has occurred twice in entirely different animals.

Metamorphosis of Fish

• Similar to a tadpole, several fish species go through a metamorphosis. Even if these shifts aren’t massive, they can affect the fish’s diet, body structure, and range of possible habitats. This may serve the same purpose as more extreme forms of evolution: to keep adults from having to feed their young. Freshwater fishes include the juvenile form of salmon, for instance. It undergoes a partial transformation into a saltwater fish.
• Remembering that all living things must maintain a proper salt/water balance is crucial to understanding this procedure. Because salt disrupts the delicate balance of our biological chemistry, we can’t safely consume seawater. 
• Similarly, most saltwater fish cannot survive in freshwater. Therefore, salmon must evolve new organs and cellular systems to survive in salt water if they are to become saltwater fish. Adult salmon spend their lives in saltwater, but their eggs need to hatch in freshwater for their young to survive. This is why the salmon must make their annual migration upstream. Therefore, to lay their eggs, adult salmon must migrate from saltwater oceans to freshwater rivers and swim as far upstream as possible.
• Flounders undergo a peculiar transformation in which one of their eyes and nostrils switches sides of their head. Flounder juveniles resemble most other fish; they have one eye and one nostril on each side of their bladelike body and swim vertically relative to the current. 
• They can swim as quickly as other fish because of their body structure. On the other hand, adult flounders are flat fish that use this strategy to their advantage by swimming with their belly pressed on the seafloor. Juvenile flounders execute this behavioral transition by simply rolling onto one side, transforming one side of their body into their gut. In fish, the “top” side of the body is determined by a change in the orientation of the eyes and the nostrils.

Metamorphosis Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Metamorphosis across 32 in-depth pages. These ready-to-use worksheets are perfect for teaching students about Metamorphosis the process of transformation that some animals go through to change their appearance and develop into adults.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

• Metamorphosis Facts
• Match It
• Life Cycle Of A Butterfly
• The Transition
• From The Start
• Compare And Contrast
• Metamorphosis
• Find The Meaning
• The Imposter
• Importance
• What Do You Think?

Frequently Asked Questions

What is metamorphosis?

Metamorphosis is a biological process of transformation that many animals go through to change their body form and develop into a different life stage, such as from a larva to an adult. This process typically involves a series of physical changes, such as the development of new body parts, changes in feeding habits, and alterations to the animal’s overall appearance.

What are the types of metamorphosis?

There are two main types of metamorphosis: complete metamorphosis and incomplete metamorphosis. Complete metamorphosis is a four-stage process that involves an egg, larva, pupa, and adult and is seen in insects like butterflies and moths. Incomplete metamorphosis is a three-stage process that involves an egg, nymph, and adult and is seen in insects like grasshoppers and cockroaches.

Why do animals undergo metamorphosis?

Metamorphosis is essential for many animals because it allows them to adapt to different ecological niches and environments. By going through distinct developmental stages, animals can specialize their bodies for various functions, such as foraging, mating, and reproduction. Additionally, metamorphosis can help animals avoid competition with adults and reduce predation risk during vulnerable life stages.

How does metamorphosis happen?

Metamorphosis is a complex process that involves hormonal and genetic changes within an animal’s body. In insects, for example, the process of metamorphosis is triggered by a hormone called ecdysone, which prompts the animal to molt its outer exoskeleton and begin the process of metamorphosis. During metamorphosis, cells within the animal’s body differentiate and specialize into different tissues, allowing for the development of new organs and body parts.

What are some examples of animals that undergo metamorphosis?

Many animals undergo metamorphosis, including insects, amphibians, and some fish. Insects like butterflies, moths, beetles, and flies are the most well-known animals that change. At the same time, amphibians, like frogs and salamanders, undergo a metamorphosis in which they transition from aquatic larvae to terrestrial adults. Some fish, like eels, also undergo a metamorphosis known as catadromous. They move from freshwater to saltwater environments and undergo physical changes to their bodies to adapt to the new environment.

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