A
viviparous animal is an animal employing
vivipary: the embryo develops inside the body of the mother, as opposed to outside in an
egg (
ovipary). The mother then gives
live birth.
The less developed form of vivipary is called
ovoviviparity, which, for instance, occurs in most
vipers. The more developed form of vivipary is called
placental viviparity;
placental mammals are the best example, but other animals have also adapted by incorporating this behavior, such as in
scorpions, some
sharks, some
snakes, and in
velvet worms. Certain lizards also employ this method such as the genera
Tiliqua and
Corucia. The placenta is attached directly to the mother in these lizards which is called viviparous matrotrophy. Viviparous offspring live independently and require an external food supply from birth. There are numerous advantages and disadvantages to being viviparous.
Viviparous plants produce seeds that germinate before they detach from the parent. In many Mangroves, for instance, the seedling germinates and grows under its own energy while still attached to its parent before dropping into the water in order to transport away.
Vivipary in popular culture
The 1932 distopian novel Brave New World by Aldous Huxley features vivipary as "smutty" and socially unacceptable method of conception. It is instead replaced with Artificial insemination taken to the extremes of mass production.
See also
