1. a reproductive strategy in which eggs are retained and hatch inside the female's body, with the young born live but receiving no maternal nourishment beyond the egg yolk.
Usage: biology; zoology; technical term

Examples

• Ovoviviparity is common in many species of sharks and snakes.
• In ovoviviparity, the embryo develops inside an egg that remains within the mother until hatching occurs.
• Unlike true viviparity, ovoviviparity does not involve a placenta or direct nutrient transfer from mother to offspring.
• Some lizard species exhibit ovoviviparity as an adaptation to cold climates.
• The distinction between ovoviviparity and viviparity is important in understanding reptile reproduction.