What does ovoviviparous mean?
Ovoviviparous describes animals whose eggs develop inside the parent's body and hatch there, after which the young are released or born. The term occupies a position between two more familiar reproductive categories: oviparity, in which eggs are laid outside the body, and viviparity, in which developing young are sustained directly by the mother, usually through a placenta or a similar mechanism. In ovoviviparous reproduction, the retained egg supplies the developing young with nourishment, while the parent provides protection and an internal environment. Certain sharks and other vertebrates are well known for this strategy, and some invertebrate groups use variations of it. The word is chiefly technical and is most useful when a biological description needs to distinguish egg development inside the body from both ordinary egg-laying and placental live-bearing.
adjectiveRelating to or describing a mode of reproduction in which an animal's eggs develop inside the parent, the young hatch internally, and are then released or born.
- Relating to a reproductive strategy in which eggs are retained inside the parent until they hatch, with the young subsequently leaving the parent's body.
"Some species of shark are ovoviviparous, retaining their eggs until the young are ready to be born."
"The guide described the shark as ovoviviparous, explaining that the female carries developing eggs internally."
"Ovoviviparous reproduction combines some features of egg-laying and live-bearing reproduction."
In ovoviviparous animals, the egg is the nursery: it stays inside the parent until the young hatch.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of ovoviviparous
The word combines the Latin ovum, meaning “egg,” with viviparous, a term formed from Latin vivus, “alive,” and parere, “to bring forth.” The compound refers literally to offspring that are brought forth alive from eggs retained internally. Its formation reflects the biological practice of treating oviparous and viviparous reproduction as contrasting categories while identifying a distinct intermediate strategy.
Related word forms
How ovoviviparous is actually used
The term is used primarily in zoology and comparative biology. It is especially associated with certain sharks, rays, snakes, lizards, and invertebrates, although reproductive strategies vary among species.
Easily confused with ovoviviparous
Oviparous animals lay eggs outside the body, whereas ovoviviparous animals retain the eggs internally until the young hatch.
Ovoviviparous animals develop their young from eggs retained within the parent, whereas viviparous animals nourish developing young directly through a placenta or comparable mechanism.