Moulting

animals · growth · natural process

Snakes shed skin. Snakes slither right out of their old skin when it gets too tight, revealing shiny new skin underneath. This happens several times a year as they grow.

Crabs escape shells. Crabs need to break free from their hard shells to grow bigger. They squeeze out and hide while their new shell hardens, which takes a few weeks.

Insects transform shells. Young insects like grasshoppers and cicadas shed their outer covering many times as they grow into adults. Each time they shed, they look more like their grown-up selves.

Birds replace feathers. Ducks, chickens, and other birds grow new feathers by dropping their old ones, usually once or twice a year. This keeps them fluffy, warm, and ready to fly.

Deer drop antlers. Male deer shed their huge antlers every year and grow brand new ones. The old antlers fall off in winter, and springy new ones grow back by summer.