Metamorphosis is a process by which animals undergo extreme, rapid physical changes some time after birth. It is a transformation of a larva into an adult involving sudden and series of continuous changes in the body of an animal during its life cycle. There are different types of metamorphosis, including complete metamorphosis and incomplete metamorphosis. Examples of animals that undergo metamorphosis include:

• Butterflies: Butterflies undergo complete metamorphosis, starting out as a worm-like, leaf-eating caterpillar and transforming into a flying, nectar-drinking creature with an exoskeleton.

• Frogs: Frogs undergo complete metamorphosis, starting out as a tadpole that lives in water and breathes through gills, and transforming into a land-dwelling frog that breathes through lungs.

• Fish: Some fish undergo metamorphosis, such as the transformation of small fish-like tadpoles into frogs.

• Insects: Most insects undergo metamorphosis, with the most famous example being that of the butterfly. Insects that undergo complete metamorphosis have four stages in their life cycle: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.

Metamorphosis is an important process that allows animals to adapt to different environments and modes of life. The immature forms, or larvae, are adapted to environments and modes of life that differ from those of the adult forms. These differences may be of significance in assuring that larvae and adults of the same species do not engage in direct competition for food or living space.