oviparity
Definition
Noun (Zoology): A mode of reproduction in which eggs are laid by the female and develop and hatch outside the mother's body.
Usage Examples
Advanced Usage
"Oviparity in insects": Refers to the process where female insects lay eggs that develop independently, often in a protected environment.
- The study of oviparity in butterflies reveals adaptations for egg-laying on specific host plants. (Research on how butterflies deposit eggs on particular plants for offspring survival.)
"Oviparity vs. ovoviviparity": A key distinction in reproductive biology; oviparity involves external development, while ovoviviparity involves internal egg retention with live birth.
- Sharks show a range from oviparity to viviparity, with some species like the horn shark practicing strict oviparity. (Some shark species lay eggs that develop externally.)
Variants and Related Words
Oviparous (adj): Producing eggs that develop and hatch outside the female's body.
- Chickens are oviparous animals, laying eggs that require incubation. (Birds that reproduce by laying eggs.)
Ovipositor (n): A tubular organ used by some female insects and fish to deposit eggs.
- The ichneumon wasp uses its long ovipositor to insert eggs into a host. (Specialized egg-laying structure.)
Synonyms
- Egg-laying: The act of producing and depositing eggs.
- Ovulation-based reproduction: A less common term emphasizing the release of eggs.
Related Idioms
- None directly applicable, as "oviparity" is a technical term with limited idiomatic use.
Additional Notes
- Contrast with viviparity: In viviparity, embryos develop inside the mother and receive nutrients directly from her body.
- Mammals, with few exceptions, practice viviparity rather than oviparity. (Live birth vs. egg-laying.)