oviparous

[ oh-vip-er-uhs ]

adjective

, Zoology.

1. producing eggs that mature and hatch after being expelled from the body, as birds, most reptiles and fishes, and the monotremes.

oviparous

/ ˌəʊvɪˈpærɪtɪ; əʊˈvɪpərəs /

adjective

1. See viviparous, ovoviviparous
   (of fishes, reptiles, birds, etc) producing eggs that hatch outside the body of the mother Compare ovoviviparous viviparous

oviparous

/ ō-vĭp′ər-əs /

1. Producing eggs that hatch outside the body. Amphibians, birds, and most insects, fish, and reptiles are oviparous.
2. Compare ovoviviparous

Derived Forms

• oˈviparously, adverb
• oviparity, noun

Other Words From

• o·vi·par·i·ty [oh-v, uh, -, par, -i-tee], o·vipa·rous·ness noun
• o·vipa·rous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of oviparous¹

From the Latin word ōviparus, dating back to 1640–50. See ovi-, -parous

Example Sentences

It is an oviparous animal, and its eggs scarcely exceed in size those of a goose.

From Project Gutenberg

The same kind of animal is then at one time of the year viviparous, and at another oviparous.

From Project Gutenberg

His purpose was the study of the wonderful Australian fauna, the oviparous mammals, marsupials, and ceratodus (lungfish).

From Project Gutenberg

Their nervous system also is not materially different, and they are both oviparous.

From Project Gutenberg

By far the larger portion of insects is oviparous in the ordinary acceptation of the term.

From Project Gutenberg