A viviparous animal is an animal employing vivipary: the embryo develops inside the body of the mother, from which it gains nourishment, as opposed to in an egg (ovipary). The mother then gives live birth. Viviparous offspring live independently and require an external food supply from birth. Vivipary is best developed in placental mammals, but also occurs in many reptiles, some amphibians, crustaceans (eg. Daphnia), scorpions, insects (aphids, the tsetse fly, some cockroaches) and a few fish.

In plants

A viviparous plant produces seeds that germinate before becoming detached from the parent plant, as in mangrove trees. They may also produce bulbils or new plants rather than seed, as in the tiger lily.

See also

• Oviparous
• Ovoviviparous
• Placental mammals
• Marsupials
• Live-bearing aquarium fish

Biological reproduction | Viviparous fish

Vivípar | Viviparie | Vivíparo | Viviparité | Vivipari | Viviparie | 胎生 | Vivíparo | Vivipar