MetamorphosisArticle Free Pass
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Articles from Britannica encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.
- metamorphosis - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)
Metamorphosis is a process some animals go through to become adults. It is a series of physical changes. Metamorphosis is especially common in insects. Genes and chemicals called hormones control the process.
- metamorphosis - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)
The transformation of a crawling caterpillar into a flying butterfly is one example of metamorphosis-a series of a dramatic changes in an organism’s body shape and structure as it develops after hatching or being born. Metamorphosis occurs in thousands of species of insects, amphibians, and other animals. It is controlled by genetic messages and hormones in the organism, but it can also be influenced by environmental factors such as temperature and diet.