What Are Oviparous Animals?
oviparous animals are those whose offspring are born from eggs . Are birds, almost all insects, fish, reptiles and amphibians; and two mammals, specifically the echidna and the platypus. . In the following article, we’ll talk more about this animal class.
Oviparous animals: what to know
Unlike viviparous animals, those who harbor their offspring in the womb for a certain period, oviparous animals lay eggs and it is from them that a new generation develops. Fertilization can take place inside, as in the case of chickens, and outside the female’s body, as in frogs.
In all cases, the development of the offspring takes place outside the mother. . This form of reproduction improves the survival rate, since the egg’s structure prevents it from drying out in hot regions or from breaking apart when in direct contact with water.
In addition, there is a group of “hybrid” animals, to call them somehow, between the oviparous and the viviparous: the ovoviviparous . In this case, the eggs remain in the female’s body until it develops and then it is born as if it were the birth of a mammal. This happens with certain species of sharks.
Egg care in oviparous animals
While these beings have the configuration in common, not everyone takes care of eggs in the same way . For example, birds build nests on tree branches, among rocks or on the ground; that serve for several days or weeks to incubate eggs.
On the other hand, the turtles make a big hole in the sand and there they bury their eggs . They cover them well and then leave, leaving the puppies to be born alone when they are well developed.
Furthermore, amphibians and fish lay their eggs in water , whether on sandbanks, among rocks or on reefs; and also “abandon” them so that they grow and leave that gelatinous layer that protected them for a while.
Examples of oviparous animals
We’ve already talked about several oviparous animals, but of course there’s more. We highlight the following:
1. Crocodile
this big reptile lays clumps of eggs after making a hole in the sand, and can also build nests with vegetation . The incubation temperature will be decisive in defining the offspring’s gender.
2. Ant
Those cold-blooded oviparous animals are truly fascinating. If the egg is fertilized, a female is born and otherwise a male is born. . The chicks are larvae fed and cared for by worker ants.
3. Sparrow
In addition to forming pairs monogamous during the breeding season, sparrows create their nests in spring, for which they use feathers, dry leaves and pieces of paper. The female lays between four and five eggs at a time and, in the same season, there can be up to four litters, totaling up to 20 offspring in total. . The couple is responsible for the incubation, taking turns for 10 days until they are born.
4. Bee
It is another oviparous animal that lives in nests or caves. As in the case of ants, the definition of the genus depends on whether or not the egg is fertilized. After mating, the mother stores the sperm and controls how many eggs she will fertilize. .
Each egg can be deposited in a cell previously fed with pollen and nectar, or in a “shared” space with other females. Everyone is responsible for feeding the young without caring if they belong to another female .
5. White Stork
They breed in agricultural areas near wetlands or swamps, and the nests (which can last for several seasons) are built with sticks and branches on top of trees or on any artificial elevated surface. The pair of storks have one litter per year, with an incubation period of one month, and from which four babies are born. .
