The word ovoviparous refers to animals that produce eggs, but retain them inside of the body of the female until hatching occurs, so that "live" offspring are born. Ovoviviparity is a much-less common reproductive strategy than oviparity (this is the external development of fertilized eggs have been laid by the female). Although infrequent, ovoviviparity is displayed by a rather wide diversity of animals, including species of insects, fish, lizards, and snakes.

Ovoviviparity in insects is rather simple, in that oxygen or nourishment are not provided to their developing eggs ( the females are just a relatively safe brooding chamber. In contrast, species of ovoviviparous fish, lizards, and snakes may provide some oxygen and nutrition to progeny developing within the oviduct of the female (most nutrition, however, is provided by the yolk of the eggs). Moreover, the eggshell is essentially reduced to a membrane in these species, facilitating the exchange...