大象传媒

Reproduction of animals

Reproduction means to have babies or offspring. To reproduce, animals need a male and a female. Together they can create offspring when they mate. This is called sexual reproduction.

Watch: Reproduction of animals

Learn how different animals reproduce.

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Fertilisation

Image caption,
This big egg belongs to an ostrich. Some animals, like lizards, lay much smaller eggs and much more of them.

During sexual reproduction a sperm from the male joins with an egg from the female. This is called fertilisation.

After fertilisation females of the following living things will lay eggs:

  • fish
  • reptiles, like snakes
  • birds
  • amphibians, like frogs
Image caption,
This big egg belongs to an ostrich. Some animals, like lizards, lay much smaller eggs and much more of them.
Image caption,
This woman is carrying her baby inside of her until it is ready to be born.

Some animals will produce lots of eggs because many of them won't grow into adults. For example, one female frog can produce thousands of eggs!

After sexual reproduction in mammals (including humans), the female grows her baby or babies inside her until they are developed enough to be born.

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Activities

Test your knowledge of reproduction of animals with the activities below.

Activity 1: Who is the parent?

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Activity 2: Quiz

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Activity 3: Sorting animals

You may need pencils and paper for this activity.

  1. Cut out fifteen squares of paper.
  2. Write three examples of fish on three separate pieces of paper, then do the same for reptiles, birds, amphibians and mammals.
  3. Mix all the pieces of paper up.
  4. Try to sort them into two piles as quickly as you can 鈥 those that lay eggs and those that have live babies.
  5. Try again until you get a record time!

What other groups could you sort these animals into?

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Bitesize Primary games. game

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More on Living things and their habitats

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