Final answer:
Animal virus reproduction is not identical to bacteriophage reproduction, as they share basic phases but differ in penetration, biosynthesis, and release mechanisms; hence the statement is false.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'Animal virus reproduction is similar to that of the bacteriophages, in having the same series of phases' is false. While animal viruses and bacteriophages do share some basic stages of infection like attachment and penetration, the mechanisms of penetration, nucleic-acid biosynthesis, and release differ between the two. Bacteriophages typically inject DNA into the host bacterial cell, whereas animal viruses can enter by endocytosis or membrane fusion. Furthermore, while bacteriophages have distinct lytic and lysogenic cycles, the replication cycles of animal viruses can include stages such as uncoating and varying strategies for integration and latency that are not present in bacteriophages.