Reproduction animal

 

Death from old age, predation, disease, injury, or sudden environmental change is an everpresent threat to animals. A species can survive and adapt, however, because its members reproduce themselves. When animals reach adult size, they become sexually mature and able to reproduce. They do so in one of two basic ways by asexual or sexual reproduction. Asexual reproduction involves only one parent, whereas sexual reproduction usually involves two adult individuals.

In many animals chemicals called hormones and pheromones cause the body to develop reproductive cells. The production of hormones also influences courtship and mating behavior. In certain climates, environmental conditions, such as the longer days of spring and early summer may activate hormones and pheromones.

Budding is a method of asexual reproduction characteristic of cnidarians such as the hydra. Budding differs from regeneration in that specialized cells are involved. These cells on the body surface grow rapidly to form an outgrowth, or bud, and develop into a smaller copy of the parent.

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