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forms</span> </div> </a> <button aria-controls="toc-Different_generations_have_different_forms-sublist" class="cdx-button cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only vector-toc-toggle"> <span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-expand"></span> <span>Toggle Different generations have different forms subsection</span> </button> <ul id="toc-Different_generations_have_different_forms-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li id="toc-Parasites" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Parasites"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.1</span> <span>Parasites</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Parasites-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> <li id="toc-Cnidaria" class="vector-toc-list-item vector-toc-level-2"> <a class="vector-toc-link" href="#Cnidaria"> <div class="vector-toc-text"> <span class="vector-toc-numb">1.2</span> <span>Cnidaria</span> </div> </a> <ul id="toc-Cnidaria-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> <li 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id="toc-Related_pages-sublist" class="vector-toc-list"> </ul> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="mw-content-container"> <main id="content" class="mw-body"> <header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar"> <nav aria-label="Contents" class="vector-toc-landmark"> <div id="vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown vector-page-titlebar-toc vector-button-flush-left" > <input type="checkbox" id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" role="button" aria-haspopup="true" data-event-name="ui.dropdown-vector-page-titlebar-toc" class="vector-dropdown-checkbox " aria-label="Toggle the table of contents" > <label id="vector-page-titlebar-toc-label" for="vector-page-titlebar-toc-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--icon-only " aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-listBullet mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-listBullet"></span> <span 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Available in 47 languages" > <label id="p-lang-btn-label" for="p-lang-btn-checkbox" class="vector-dropdown-label cdx-button cdx-button--fake-button cdx-button--fake-button--enabled cdx-button--weight-quiet cdx-button--action-progressive mw-portlet-lang-heading-47" aria-hidden="true" ><span class="vector-icon mw-ui-icon-language-progressive mw-ui-icon-wikimedia-language-progressive"></span> <span class="vector-dropdown-label-text">47 languages</span> </label> <div class="vector-dropdown-content"> <div class="vector-menu-content"> <ul class="vector-menu-content-list"> <li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ar mw-list-item"><a href="https://ar.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A9_%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A9_(%D8%A3%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%A1)" title="دورة حياة (أحياء) – Arabic" lang="ar" hreflang="ar" data-title="دورة حياة (أحياء)" data-language-autonym="العربية" data-language-local-name="Arabic" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>العربية</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bcl mw-list-item"><a href="https://bcl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biolohikong_siklo_nin_buhay" title="Biolohikong siklo nin buhay – Central Bikol" lang="bcl" hreflang="bcl" data-title="Biolohikong siklo nin buhay" data-language-autonym="Bikol Central" data-language-local-name="Central Bikol" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bikol Central</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bg mw-list-item"><a href="https://bg.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%9A%D1%80%D1%8A%D0%B3%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82_%D0%BD%D0%B0_%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B0" title="Кръговрат на живота – Bulgarian" lang="bg" hreflang="bg" data-title="Кръговрат на живота" data-language-autonym="Български" data-language-local-name="Bulgarian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Български</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-bs mw-list-item"><a href="https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BDivotni_ciklus" title="Životni ciklus – Bosnian" lang="bs" hreflang="bs" data-title="Životni ciklus" data-language-autonym="Bosanski" data-language-local-name="Bosnian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bosanski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ca mw-list-item"><a href="https://ca.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicle_biol%C3%B2gic" title="Cicle biològic – Catalan" lang="ca" hreflang="ca" data-title="Cicle biològic" data-language-autonym="Català" data-language-local-name="Catalan" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Català</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cs mw-list-item"><a href="https://cs.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BDivotn%C3%AD_cyklus" title="Životní cyklus – Czech" lang="cs" hreflang="cs" data-title="Životní cyklus" data-language-autonym="Čeština" data-language-local-name="Czech" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Čeština</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-cy mw-list-item"><a href="https://cy.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylchred_bywyd" title="Cylchred bywyd – Welsh" lang="cy" hreflang="cy" data-title="Cylchred bywyd" data-language-autonym="Cymraeg" data-language-local-name="Welsh" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Cymraeg</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-da mw-list-item"><a href="https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livscyklus" title="Livscyklus – Danish" lang="da" hreflang="da" data-title="Livscyklus" data-language-autonym="Dansk" data-language-local-name="Danish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Dansk</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-et mw-list-item"><a href="https://et.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eluts%C3%BCkkel" title="Elutsükkel – Estonian" lang="et" hreflang="et" data-title="Elutsükkel" data-language-autonym="Eesti" data-language-local-name="Estonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Eesti</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-el mw-list-item"><a href="https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%92%CE%B9%CE%BF%CE%BB%CE%BF%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%8C%CF%82_%CE%BA%CF%8D%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%BF%CF%82_%CF%84%CE%B7%CF%82_%CE%B6%CF%89%CE%AE%CF%82" title="Βιολογικός κύκλος της ζωής – Greek" lang="el" hreflang="el" data-title="Βιολογικός κύκλος της ζωής" data-language-autonym="Ελληνικά" data-language-local-name="Greek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Ελληνικά</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-en mw-list-item"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biological_life_cycle" title="Biological life cycle – English" lang="en" hreflang="en" data-title="Biological life cycle" data-language-autonym="English" data-language-local-name="English" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>English</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-es mw-list-item"><a href="https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciclo_biol%C3%B3gico_de_vida" title="Ciclo biológico de vida – Spanish" lang="es" hreflang="es" data-title="Ciclo biológico de vida" data-language-autonym="Español" data-language-local-name="Spanish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Español</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-eo mw-list-item"><a href="https://eo.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vivciklo_(biologio)" title="Vivciklo (biologio) – Esperanto" lang="eo" hreflang="eo" data-title="Vivciklo (biologio)" data-language-autonym="Esperanto" data-language-local-name="Esperanto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Esperanto</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fa mw-list-item"><a href="https://fa.wikipedia.org/wiki/%DA%86%D8%B1%D8%AE%D9%87_%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%AF%DA%AF%DB%8C_%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C" title="چرخه زندگی زیستی – Persian" lang="fa" hreflang="fa" data-title="چرخه زندگی زیستی" data-language-autonym="فارسی" data-language-local-name="Persian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>فارسی</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fr mw-list-item"><a href="https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cycle_de_vie_(biologie)" title="Cycle de vie (biologie) – French" lang="fr" hreflang="fr" data-title="Cycle de vie (biologie)" data-language-autonym="Français" data-language-local-name="French" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Français</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ga mw-list-item"><a href="https://ga.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timthriall_na_beatha" title="Timthriall na beatha – Irish" lang="ga" hreflang="ga" data-title="Timthriall na beatha" data-language-autonym="Gaeilge" data-language-local-name="Irish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Gaeilge</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ko mw-list-item"><a href="https://ko.wikipedia.org/wiki/%EC%83%9D%ED%99%9C%ED%99%98" title="생활환 – Korean" lang="ko" hreflang="ko" data-title="생활환" data-language-autonym="한국어" data-language-local-name="Korean" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>한국어</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hy mw-list-item"><a href="https://hy.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D4%BF%D5%A5%D5%B6%D5%A4%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%AB_%D6%85%D6%80%D5%A3%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%AB%D5%A6%D5%B4%D5%AB_%D5%AF%D5%A5%D5%B6%D5%BD%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6_%D6%81%D5%AB%D5%AF%D5%AC" title="Կենդանի օրգանիզմի կենսական ցիկլ – Armenian" lang="hy" hreflang="hy" data-title="Կենդանի օրգանիզմի կենսական ցիկլ" data-language-autonym="Հայերեն" data-language-local-name="Armenian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Հայերեն</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-hi mw-list-item"><a href="https://hi.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A8_%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0" title="जीववैज्ञानिक जीवन चक्र – Hindi" lang="hi" hreflang="hi" data-title="जीववैज्ञानिक जीवन चक्र" data-language-autonym="हिन्दी" data-language-local-name="Hindi" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>हिन्दी</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-id mw-list-item"><a href="https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daur_hidup_organisme" title="Daur hidup organisme – Indonesian" lang="id" hreflang="id" data-title="Daur hidup organisme" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Indonesia" data-language-local-name="Indonesian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Indonesia</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-it mw-list-item"><a href="https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciclo_vitale_biologico" title="Ciclo vitale biologico – Italian" lang="it" hreflang="it" data-title="Ciclo vitale biologico" data-language-autonym="Italiano" data-language-local-name="Italian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Italiano</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-he mw-list-item"><a href="https://he.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%97%D7%96%D7%95%D7%A8_%D7%97%D7%99%D7%99%D7%9D" title="מחזור חיים – Hebrew" lang="he" hreflang="he" data-title="מחזור חיים" data-language-autonym="עברית" data-language-local-name="Hebrew" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>עברית</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ka mw-list-item"><a href="https://ka.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E1%83%A1%E1%83%90%E1%83%A1%E1%83%98%E1%83%AA%E1%83%9D%E1%83%AA%E1%83%AE%E1%83%9A%E1%83%9D_%E1%83%AA%E1%83%98%E1%83%99%E1%83%9A%E1%83%98_(%E1%83%91%E1%83%98%E1%83%9D%E1%83%9A%E1%83%9D%E1%83%92%E1%83%98%E1%83%90)" title="სასიცოცხლო ციკლი (ბიოლოგია) – Georgian" lang="ka" hreflang="ka" data-title="სასიცოცხლო ციკლი (ბიოლოგია)" data-language-autonym="ქართული" data-language-local-name="Georgian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>ქართული</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lt mw-list-item"><a href="https://lt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gyvenimo_ciklas" title="Gyvenimo ciklas – Lithuanian" lang="lt" hreflang="lt" data-title="Gyvenimo ciklas" data-language-autonym="Lietuvių" data-language-local-name="Lithuanian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lietuvių</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-lfn mw-list-item"><a href="https://lfn.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sicle_de_vive" title="Sicle de vive – Lingua Franca Nova" lang="lfn" hreflang="lfn" data-title="Sicle de vive" data-language-autonym="Lingua Franca Nova" data-language-local-name="Lingua Franca Nova" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Lingua Franca Nova</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mk mw-list-item"><a href="https://mk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%91%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D1%88%D0%BA%D0%B8_%D0%B6%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BE%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BD_%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BB%D1%83%D1%81" title="Биолошки животен циклус – Macedonian" lang="mk" hreflang="mk" data-title="Биолошки животен циклус" data-language-autonym="Македонски" data-language-local-name="Macedonian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Македонски</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ml mw-list-item"><a href="https://ml.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%B4%9C%E0%B5%80%E0%B4%B5%E0%B4%BF%E0%B4%A4%E0%B4%9A%E0%B4%95%E0%B5%8D%E0%B4%B0%E0%B4%82" title="ജീവിതചക്രം – Malayalam" lang="ml" hreflang="ml" data-title="ജീവിതചക്രം" data-language-autonym="മലയാളം" data-language-local-name="Malayalam" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>മലയാളം</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ms mw-list-item"><a href="https://ms.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitaran_hidup_(biologi)" title="Kitaran hidup (biologi) – Malay" lang="ms" hreflang="ms" data-title="Kitaran hidup (biologi)" data-language-autonym="Bahasa Melayu" data-language-local-name="Malay" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Bahasa Melayu</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-mdf mw-list-item"><a href="https://mdf.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%AD%D1%80%D1%8F%D1%84%D0%BE%D0%BD%D1%8C_%D0%BF%D0%B8%D0%BD%D0%B3%D0%B5" title="Эряфонь пинге – Moksha" lang="mdf" hreflang="mdf" data-title="Эряфонь пинге" data-language-autonym="Мокшень" data-language-local-name="Moksha" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Мокшень</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-nl mw-list-item"><a href="https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Levenscyclus" title="Levenscyclus – Dutch" lang="nl" hreflang="nl" data-title="Levenscyclus" data-language-autonym="Nederlands" data-language-local-name="Dutch" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Nederlands</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ne mw-list-item"><a href="https://ne.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%9E%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%95_%E0%A4%9C%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%A8_%E0%A4%9A%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0" title="जीववैज्ञानिक जीवन चक्र – Nepali" lang="ne" hreflang="ne" data-title="जीववैज्ञानिक जीवन चक्र" data-language-autonym="नेपाली" data-language-local-name="Nepali" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>नेपाली</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ja mw-list-item"><a href="https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%94%9F%E6%B4%BB%E7%92%B0" title="生活環 – Japanese" lang="ja" hreflang="ja" data-title="生活環" data-language-autonym="日本語" data-language-local-name="Japanese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>日本語</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-uz mw-list-item"><a href="https://uz.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hayotiy_sikl" title="Hayotiy sikl – Uzbek" lang="uz" hreflang="uz" data-title="Hayotiy sikl" data-language-autonym="Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча" data-language-local-name="Uzbek" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Oʻzbekcha / ўзбекча</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ps mw-list-item"><a href="https://ps.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D8%AF_%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%88%DA%98%D9%8A%DA%A9%D9%8A_%DA%98%D9%88%D9%86%D8%AF_%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86" title="د بيالوژيکي ژوند دوران – Pashto" lang="ps" hreflang="ps" data-title="د بيالوژيکي ژوند دوران" data-language-autonym="پښتو" data-language-local-name="Pashto" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>پښتو</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pl mw-list-item"><a href="https://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cykl_%C5%BCyciowy" title="Cykl życiowy – Polish" lang="pl" hreflang="pl" data-title="Cykl życiowy" data-language-autonym="Polski" data-language-local-name="Polish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Polski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-pt mw-list-item"><a href="https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciclo_de_vida" title="Ciclo de vida – Portuguese" lang="pt" hreflang="pt" data-title="Ciclo de vida" data-language-autonym="Português" data-language-local-name="Portuguese" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Português</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ru mw-list-item"><a href="https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%96%D0%B8%D0%B7%D0%BD%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D1%8B%D0%B9_%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BB_(%D0%B1%D0%B8%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%BE%D0%B3%D0%B8%D1%8F)" title="Жизненный цикл (биология) – Russian" lang="ru" hreflang="ru" data-title="Жизненный цикл (биология)" data-language-autonym="Русский" data-language-local-name="Russian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Русский</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sk mw-list-item"><a href="https://sk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C5%BDivotn%C3%BD_cyklus" title="Životný cyklus – Slovak" lang="sk" hreflang="sk" data-title="Životný cyklus" data-language-autonym="Slovenčina" data-language-local-name="Slovak" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Slovenčina</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sr mw-list-item"><a href="https://sr.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A0%D0%B5%D0%BF%D1%80%D0%BE%D0%B4%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%82%D0%B8%D0%B2%D0%BD%D0%B8_%D1%86%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%BB%D1%83%D1%81" title="Репродуктивни циклус – Serbian" lang="sr" hreflang="sr" data-title="Репродуктивни циклус" data-language-autonym="Српски / srpski" data-language-local-name="Serbian" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Српски / srpski</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-fi mw-list-item"><a href="https://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elinkierto" title="Elinkierto – Finnish" lang="fi" hreflang="fi" data-title="Elinkierto" data-language-autonym="Suomi" data-language-local-name="Finnish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Suomi</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-sv mw-list-item"><a href="https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livscykel" title="Livscykel – Swedish" lang="sv" hreflang="sv" data-title="Livscykel" data-language-autonym="Svenska" data-language-local-name="Swedish" class="interlanguage-link-target"><span>Svenska</span></a></li><li class="interlanguage-link interwiki-ta mw-list-item"><a href="https://ta.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%BE%E0%AE%B4%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%95%E0%AF%88_%E0%AE%B5%E0%AE%9F%E0%AF%8D%E0%AE%9F%E0%AE%AE%E0%AF%8D_(%E0%AE%89%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%B0%E0%AE%BF%E0%AE%AF%E0%AE%B2%E0%AF%8D)" title="வாழ்க்கை வட்டம் (உயிரியல்) – Tamil" lang="ta" hreflang="ta" data-title="வாழ்க்கை வட்டம் (உயிரியல்)" data-language-autonym="தமிழ்" data-language-local-name="Tamil" 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data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r9496804/mw-parser-output/.tmulti">.mw-parser-output .tmulti .multiimageinner{display:flex;flex-direction:column}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{display:flex;flex-direction:row;clear:left;flex-wrap:wrap;width:100%;box-sizing:border-box}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{margin:1px;float:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .theader{clear:both;font-weight:bold;text-align:center;align-self:center;background-color:transparent;width:100%}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbcaption{background-color:transparent}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-left{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-right{text-align:right}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .text-align-center{text-align:center}@media all and (max-width:720px){.mw-parser-output .tmulti .thumbinner{width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;max-width:none!important;align-items:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow{justify-content:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle{float:none!important;max-width:100%!important;box-sizing:border-box;text-align:center}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .tsingle .thumbcaption{text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .tmulti .trow>.thumbcaption{text-align:center}}</style><div class="thumb tmulti tright"><div class="thumbinner multiimageinner" style="width:204px;max-width:204px"><div class="trow"><div class="theader"><a href="/wiki/Endopterygota" title="Endopterygota">Most insects</a> go through sharply defined stages in their life cycle</div></div><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:202px;max-width:202px"><div class="thumbimage"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Danaus_plexippus_caterpillar.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Danaus_plexippus_caterpillar.jpg/200px-Danaus_plexippus_caterpillar.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="300" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Danaus_plexippus_caterpillar.jpg/300px-Danaus_plexippus_caterpillar.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/14/Danaus_plexippus_caterpillar.jpg/400px-Danaus_plexippus_caterpillar.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1462" data-file-height="2193" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption"><a href="/wiki/Caterpillar" title="Caterpillar">Caterpillar</a> larva</div></div></div><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:202px;max-width:202px"><div class="thumbimage"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Monarch_Butterfly_Cocoon_3.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Monarch_Butterfly_Cocoon_3.jpg/200px-Monarch_Butterfly_Cocoon_3.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="263" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Monarch_Butterfly_Cocoon_3.jpg/300px-Monarch_Butterfly_Cocoon_3.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/15/Monarch_Butterfly_Cocoon_3.jpg/400px-Monarch_Butterfly_Cocoon_3.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1446" data-file-height="1900" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption"><a href="/wiki/Pupa" title="Pupa">Pupa</a></div></div></div><div class="trow"><div class="tsingle" style="width:202px;max-width:202px"><div class="thumbimage"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Danaus_plexippus_emerging_from_chrysalis_04.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img alt="" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Danaus_plexippus_emerging_from_chrysalis_04.jpg/200px-Danaus_plexippus_emerging_from_chrysalis_04.jpg" decoding="async" width="200" height="314" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Danaus_plexippus_emerging_from_chrysalis_04.jpg/300px-Danaus_plexippus_emerging_from_chrysalis_04.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/97/Danaus_plexippus_emerging_from_chrysalis_04.jpg/400px-Danaus_plexippus_emerging_from_chrysalis_04.jpg 2x" data-file-width="907" data-file-height="1422" /></a></span></div><div class="thumbcaption">Butterfly: <a href="/wiki/Imago" title="Imago">adult insect</a></div></div></div></div></div> <p><b>Life cycle</b> means the stages a <a href="/wiki/Organism" title="Organism">living thing</a> goes through during its life. </p><p>In some cases the process is slow, and the changes are gradual. Humans have various stages of growth during their lives, such as <a href="/wiki/Zygote" title="Zygote">zygote</a>, <a href="/wiki/Embryo" title="Embryo">embryo</a>, <a href="/wiki/Child" title="Child">child</a> and <a href="/wiki/Adult" title="Adult">adult</a>. The change from a child to an adult is slow and continuous. In many <a href="/wiki/Society" title="Society">societies</a> it is marked by ceremonies at <a href="/wiki/Puberty" title="Puberty">puberty</a>. </p><p>In most <a href="/wiki/Insect" title="Insect">insects</a> the transition is sharp and well-defined: <a href="/wiki/Ovum" title="Ovum">egg</a> > <a href="/wiki/Larva" title="Larva">larva</a> > <a href="/wiki/Pupa" title="Pupa">pupa</a> > <a href="/wiki/Imago" title="Imago">imago</a> (adult). </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Different_generations_have_different_forms">Different generations have different forms</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Life_cycle&veaction=edit&section=1" title="Change section: Different generations have different forms" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>change</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Life_cycle&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section's source code: Different generations have different forms"><span>change source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>In some animals, the parent generation looks different from the child. The most common case is that there are two different forms. One form will have <a href="/wiki/Sexual_reproduction" title="Sexual reproduction">sexual reproduction</a>, the others might not reproduce, or might reproduce <a href="/wiki/Asexual_reproduction" title="Asexual reproduction">asexually</a>. </p><p>Some plants and a few other organisms have a system called <i><a href="/wiki/Alternation_of_generations" title="Alternation of generations">alternation of generations</a></i> which is not quite the same because one form is <a href="/wiki/Haploid" title="Haploid">haploid</a> and the other is <a href="/wiki/Diploid" class="mw-redirect" title="Diploid">dipoid</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Parasites">Parasites</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Life_cycle&veaction=edit&section=2" title="Change section: Parasites" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>change</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Life_cycle&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section's source code: Parasites"><span>change source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p><a href="/wiki/Parasitism" title="Parasitism">Parasites</a> are organisms that benefit from harming other organisms. The organism they profit from is usually called <a href="/wiki/Host_(biology)" title="Host (biology)">host</a>. Many parasites have complex life cycles, where they need different hosts for different stages of their development. As an example, the cycle egg > <a href="/wiki/Snail" title="Snail">snail</a> host > <a href="/wiki/Mammal" title="Mammal">mammal</a> host is common for parasites of <a href="/wiki/Herbivore" title="Herbivore">herbivorous</a> mammals. <a href="/wiki/Malaria" title="Malaria">Malaria</a> is caused by single-celled parasites. These parasites go through two stages in their development. One stage is in the <a href="/wiki/Blood" title="Blood">blood</a> of <a href="/wiki/Mosquito" title="Mosquito">mosquitoes</a>, the other in the blood of <a href="/wiki/Human" title="Human">humans</a>. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Cnidaria">Cnidaria</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Life_cycle&veaction=edit&section=3" title="Change section: Cnidaria" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>change</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Life_cycle&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section's source code: Cnidaria"><span>change source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Examples of this can also be found in the <a href="/wiki/Cnidaria" title="Cnidaria">Cnidaria</a>. These animals live in the <a href="/wiki/Sea" title="Sea">sea</a> or in <a href="/wiki/Freshwater" class="mw-redirect" title="Freshwater">freshwater</a> and the structure of most is relatively simple. Some live as single animals, others form <a href="/wiki/Colony_(biology)" title="Colony (biology)">colonies</a>. In a colony, many animals live together. Often, each <a href="/wiki/Animal" title="Animal">animal</a> in a colony is specialized, and needs the other animals of the colony to survive. </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Complete_cycle">Complete cycle</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Life_cycle&veaction=edit&section=4" title="Change section: Complete cycle" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>change</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Life_cycle&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section's source code: Complete cycle"><span>change source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A well-known example where different generations have different forms is the <a href="/wiki/Jellyfish" title="Jellyfish">jellyfish</a>. It has two: </p> <ul><li>One is called <a href="/wiki/Medusa_(biology)" title="Medusa (biology)">medusa</a>: it reproduces sexually, and is what most people associate with the word jellyfish.Very ofen the medusa is free-floating.</li> <li>The other form is called <a href="/wiki/Polyp" title="Polyp">polyp</a>. It does not reproduce sexually, and is usually <a href="/wiki/Sessile" class="mw-redirect" title="Sessile">sessile</a>. Polyps are generally attached to the sea floor or another hard surface in the water. <a href="/wiki/Coral_reef" title="Coral reef">Coral reefs</a> are colonies of polyps.</li></ul> <p>In a complete cycle, the offspring of a medusa will develop into a polyp, and the offspring of a polyp will be a medusa. </p> <ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Polypen_einer_Gorgonie.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Polyps"><img alt="Polyps" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Polypen_einer_Gorgonie.jpg/120px-Polypen_einer_Gorgonie.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="80" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Polypen_einer_Gorgonie.jpg/180px-Polypen_einer_Gorgonie.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0e/Polypen_einer_Gorgonie.jpg/240px-Polypen_einer_Gorgonie.jpg 2x" data-file-width="302" data-file-height="201" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Polyps </div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:HydomedusaeAglanthaDigitale.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A medusa"><img alt="A medusa" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/HydomedusaeAglanthaDigitale.jpg/120px-HydomedusaeAglanthaDigitale.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="114" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/HydomedusaeAglanthaDigitale.jpg/180px-HydomedusaeAglanthaDigitale.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/HydomedusaeAglanthaDigitale.jpg/240px-HydomedusaeAglanthaDigitale.jpg 2x" data-file-width="475" data-file-height="450" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A medusa</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading4"><h4 id="Incomplete_cycle_and_variations">Incomplete cycle and variations</h4><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Life_cycle&veaction=edit&section=5" title="Change section: Incomplete cycle and variations" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>change</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Life_cycle&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section's source code: Incomplete cycle and variations"><span>change source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>Sometimes the cycle is modified or incomplete. <a href="/wiki/Anthozoa" title="Anthozoa">Anthozoa</a> is a group of the Cnidaria which contains <a href="/wiki/Sea_anemone" title="Sea anemone">sea anemones</a> and <a href="/wiki/Coral" title="Coral">corals</a>. In the anthozoa, there is only a polyp stage, and no medusa stage. </p><p>The <a href="/wiki/Box_jellyfish" title="Box jellyfish">box jellyfish</a> form another small group in the Cnidaria. In the box jellyfish, the polyp transforms into the medusa. In some cases, only part of the polyp transforms, the part that is left <a href="/wiki/Regeneration" title="Regeneration">regenerates</a> to form a new polyp. People have also talked about the box jellyfish because many of them produce <a href="/wiki/Poison" title="Poison">poison</a> that is very effective, and that can be dangerous to humans. </p><p> In the <a href="/wiki/Staurozoa" title="Staurozoa">stalked jellyfish</a>, there is only one form, which has been interpreted as a sessile medusa. </p><ul class="gallery mw-gallery-traditional"> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Acanthastrea_lordhowensis.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="Single polyp of a coral"><img alt="Single polyp of a coral" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Acanthastrea_lordhowensis.jpg/120px-Acanthastrea_lordhowensis.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="114" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Acanthastrea_lordhowensis.jpg/180px-Acanthastrea_lordhowensis.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Acanthastrea_lordhowensis.jpg/240px-Acanthastrea_lordhowensis.jpg 2x" data-file-width="500" data-file-height="476" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">Single polyp of a coral</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:PillarCoral.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A Coral"><img alt="A Coral" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/PillarCoral.jpg/79px-PillarCoral.jpg" decoding="async" width="79" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/PillarCoral.jpg/119px-PillarCoral.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/06/PillarCoral.jpg/159px-PillarCoral.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1192" data-file-height="1796" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A Coral</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Urticina_piscivora_1.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A sea anemone"><img alt="A sea anemone" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Urticina_piscivora_1.jpg/120px-Urticina_piscivora_1.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="90" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Urticina_piscivora_1.jpg/180px-Urticina_piscivora_1.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3f/Urticina_piscivora_1.jpg/240px-Urticina_piscivora_1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1200" data-file-height="900" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A sea anemone</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Avispa_marina.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="The sea wasp, a box jellyfish"><img alt="The sea wasp, a box jellyfish" src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Avispa_marina.jpg/67px-Avispa_marina.jpg" decoding="async" width="67" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Avispa_marina.jpg/101px-Avispa_marina.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/3a/Avispa_marina.jpg/135px-Avispa_marina.jpg 2x" data-file-width="900" data-file-height="1600" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">The <a href="/wiki/Sea_wasp" class="mw-redirect" title="Sea wasp">sea wasp</a>, a box jellyfish</div> </li> <li class="gallerybox" style="width: 155px"> <div class="thumb" style="width: 150px; height: 150px;"><span typeof="mw:File"><a href="/wiki/File:Haliclystus_stejnegeri_1.jpg" class="mw-file-description" title="A stalked jellyfish."><img alt="A stalked jellyfish." src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Haliclystus_stejnegeri_1.jpg/120px-Haliclystus_stejnegeri_1.jpg" decoding="async" width="120" height="120" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Haliclystus_stejnegeri_1.jpg/180px-Haliclystus_stejnegeri_1.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/Haliclystus_stejnegeri_1.jpg/240px-Haliclystus_stejnegeri_1.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1080" data-file-height="1080" /></a></span></div> <div class="gallerytext">A stalked jellyfish.</div> </li> </ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Related_pages">Related pages</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Life_cycle&veaction=edit&section=6" title="Change section: Related pages" class="mw-editsection-visualeditor"><span>change</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-divider"> | </span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Life_cycle&action=edit&section=6" title="Edit section's source code: Related pages"><span>change source</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/Metamorphosis" title="Metamorphosis">Metamorphosis</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Parasitism" title="Parasitism">Parasitism</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Life_cycle_(computing)" class="mw-redirect" title="Life cycle (computing)">Life cycle (computing)</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Alternation_of_generations" title="Alternation of generations">Alternation of generations</a></li></ul>    </div><noscript><img src="https://login.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:CentralAutoLogin/start?type=1x1&useformat=desktop" alt="" width="1" height="1" style="border: none; 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