Ovoviviparity

Ovoviviparous animals develop within eggs that remain within the mother’s body up until they hatch or are about to hatch. This strategy of birth is known as ovoviviparity. It is similar to vivipary in that the embryo develops within the mother’s body. Unlike the embryos of viviparous species, ovoviviparous embryos are nourished by the egg yolk rather than by the mother’s body. However, the mother’s body does provide gas exchange.

Ovoviviparity is employed by many aquatic life forms such as fish and some sharks, reptiles, and invertebrates. The young of ovoviviparous amphibians are sometimes born as larvae, and undergo metamorphosis outside the body of the mother.

• Oviparous
• Viviparous
• Live-bearing aquarium fish
• Sand tiger shark
• Giffordius, a snail

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