ovovivíparas

Ovoviviparous is a term used in biology to describe a mode of reproduction. Organisms that are ovoviviparous retain their eggs inside the mother's body until they hatch. The young then emerge from the mother's body as live birth, but without a placental connection. This differs from viviparity, where the developing young are nourished by a placenta, and oviparity, where eggs are laid externally and develop outside the mother's body.

In ovoviviparous species, the developing embryos are nourished by the yolk within the egg. The eggshell is typically thin and sometimes absent, allowing for gas exchange with the mother's reproductive tract. The mother's body provides a safe and stable environment for incubation, protecting the eggs from external predators and environmental fluctuations. Once the embryos have fully developed and hatched inside the mother, they are expelled from her body.

This reproductive strategy is found in a variety of animal groups. It is common among some fish, such as certain sharks and guppies. Reptiles also exhibit ovoviviparity, with examples found in some snakes and lizards. A few invertebrate species, like some scorpions and insects, also reproduce in this manner. Ovoviviparity can be seen as an intermediate strategy between laying eggs and giving birth to live, fully developed young that have been nourished by a placenta.