Difference Between Oviparous And Viviparous Animals (With Examples)

What Are Oviparous Animals?

Oviparous animals are animals that reproduce by laying eggs. Fertilization of the egg can occur internally or externally, oviparous animals always hatch their young ones outside the body.

Oviparous animals can lay one or many eggs. Each egg is a gamete formed by genetic material from the female ovum and genetic material from the male sperm. The sperms must find their way to the egg, either inside the female’s body or in an external environment like aquatic where fertilization is internal.

After the ovum and the sperm meet, the ovum become fertilized and gives rise to an embryo that develops inside the egg. Many animals produce several eggs, many of which are fragile, due to this fragility; the number of eggs hatched is high so that at least one survives predators and vagaries of nature. Other animals choose to protect a few very strong, large eggs. There are advantages to both. Many eggs results in many offspring at once, and many offspring can overcome a few predators. On the other hand, a large protected egg increased the development of the offspring and the chances it will survive until birth. This advantage may make the offspring large enough to escape potential predators and accidents after birth.

Majority of viviparous and ovoviviparous animals carry their developing young with them, however, oviparous animals must protect or hide their eggs for the duration of development. Many birds must sit on their eggs frequently to keep them warm, or even constantly in the case of cold-climate birds like penguins. In the case of animals that do not protect their eggs, there is always the chance of a predator stumbling upon the nest and eating their whole clutch (batch of eggs).

Examples of oviparous animals include:

• Amphibians
• Majority of fish
• Insects
• Mollusks
• Arachnids
• Reptiles
• Birds

Facts About Oviparous Animals

• Oviparous animals are animals that produce their offspring by laying eggs.
• They female lay both fertilized and unfertilized eggs.
• Reproduction in oviparous animals usually occurs at the time where there is sufficient food availability for the embryo.
• Fertilization in oviparous animals can either be internal or external.
• Given that oviparous animals lay eggs on the environmental surface the chances of survival are less because the eggs are highly susceptible to predators and vagarious of nature.
• The embryo of the oviparous animals receives nutrients from the yolk.
• The embryo of oviparous animals develops outside the female.
• Oviparous animals care after their eggs and young ones.
• The chance of survival of the young ones is comparatively less as the eggs are laid in the environment where they are prone to various dangers.
• In many cases, the developing embryo of oviparous animals is connected to the yolk.
• Produce a large number of offspring.

Also Read: Difference Between Internal And External Fertilization

What Are Viviparous Animals?

Viviparous animals are those that develop their offspring embryos inside of the body. After female mates with a male of the same species, a new being is created. During the gestation process (embryo development), the embryo will inherit characteristics of both its parents. The vast majority of viviparous animals are quadruped (have four legs) for running, walking and running. Humans are bipedal, but few other mammals are bipedal in their mode of movement.

Viviparous animals differ from egg-laying animals, such as birds and most reptiles. Egg-laying, or oviparous, animals obtain all nourishment as they develop from the yolk and the protein-rich albumen, or “white,” in the egg itself, not from direct contact with the mother, as is the case with viviparous young.

The offspring of both viviparous and oviparous animals develop from fertilized eggs, but the eggs of viviparous animals lack a hard outer covering or shell like the chicken egg. Viviparous young grow in the adult female until they are able to survive on their own outside her body. In many cases, the developing fetuses of viviparous animals are connected to a placenta in the mother’s body. The placenta is a special membranous organ with a rich blood supply that lines the uterus in pregnant mammals. It provides nourishment to the fetus through a supply line called an umbilical cord. The time between fertilization and birth of viviparous animals is called the gestation period.

Examples of viviparous animals include:

• Cow
• Dogs
• Goat
• Zebra
• Donkey
• Elephant
• Lion
• pig
• elephant
• Zebra
• Giraffe

Facts About Viviporous Animals

• Viviparous animals are animals that reproduce by producing an offspring directly without any egg.
• In viviparous, the development of the offspring takes place inside the body of the mother and gets all the nutrients from the maternal body.
• Viviparous animals undergo only internal fertilization.
• Viviparous might reproduce at any time of the year.
• The chances of survival of young one is more because of proper embryonic care and protection inside the mother’s body.
• The embryo of oviparous animals receives nutrients from the mother through the placenta.
• Embryonic development of viviparous animals happens inside the female.
• Some viviparous animals care for the young ones after birth whereas others don’t.
• The chance of survival of the young ones is comparatively high as they are protected inside the body of the mother.
• In many cases, the developing fetuses of viviparous animals are connected to a placenta in the mother’s body.
• Produce a few offspring.

Also Read: Difference Between Vertebrates And Invertebrates Animals

Differences Between Oviparous And Viviparous Animals In Tabular Form

Also Read: Difference Between Protostomes And Deuterostomes

Similarities Between Oviporous and Viviporous

• Internal fertilization is possible in both types.
• Both oviparous and viviparous are methods of the production of young ones.
• They both perform reproduction and respiration functions in their body.
• Both show locomotion.