Learn how animals reproduce with this clear and step-by-step explanation designed for 13-year-old students. Understand different reproduction methods in the animal kingdom.
Reproduction is how animals make babies to continue their species. There are two main types of reproduction in animals: sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction. Let's look at each one.
Most animals reproduce sexually, which means they need two parents: a male and a female. Each parent provides a special cell called a gamete (sperm from the male and egg from the female). When the sperm and egg join together in a process called fertilization, they form a new cell that will grow into a baby animal.
For example:
Some animals can reproduce without a partner. This is called asexual reproduction. The offspring are usually exact copies (clones) of the parent.
Examples include:
So, animals reproduce either sexually (with two parents and gametes) or asexually (one parent making a copy). This helps animals create babies and keep their species alive!