Final answer:
The life cycle of a dog involves direct development without metamorphosis, including parental care for young. Frogs undergo metamorphosis from egg to tadpole to adult, with minimal parental involvement. Dogs and chickens have more similar life cycles, while frogs and butterflies have transformative life cycles with varying degrees of parental care.
Step-by-step explanation:
Similarities and Differences in Animal Life Cycles:
The life cycle of a dog is quite straightforward: it is born as a puppy, matures into an adult, and reproduces sexually. Dogs do not undergo metamorphosis, and their development is direct, with the young resembling the adult form from birth. Conversely, the life cycle of a frog is a prime example of metamorphosis, a biological process where an animal undergoes significant physical development after birth. Frogs begin their life cycle as eggs, which then hatch into aquatic larvae called tadpoles. These tadpoles gradually develop limbs, lungs and undergo other morphological changes to become terrestrial adults.
Parental involvement is generally more extensive in dogs, where the parents care for their young until they are capable of independent living. For most amphibians, including frogs, parental involvement is minimal after laying eggs.
When comparing the life cycle of a dog, frog, chicken, and butterfly, we see a spectrum of reproductive and developmental strategies. Chickens exhibit a life cycle similar to that of dogs, with direct development from egg to chick to adult, but with the presence of an externally laid egg. Butterflies, like frogs, undergo metamorphosis, but with distinct stages: egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult (butterfly).
Each of these life cycles represents different adaptations to the environment and species survival strategies. While dogs and chickens develop directly and maintain resemblance throughout their growth, frogs and butterflies change radically - demonstrating the diverse evolutionary paths taken by multicellular organisms.