oviparous

9.6

Producing young by laying eggs that hatch outside the body

adjective
/ˌoʊvɪˈpɛrəs/

Specialized

: ovíparo

Turtles are known for being oviparous, laying their eggs on sandy beaches.
oviparous species
oviparous lizards

Examples

Unfortunately, good comparative data for closely related oviparous and viviparous species do not exist to test these possibilities.

Academic text (1993)
In contrast, all of the approximately 250 species of turtles, 21 species of crocodilians, and 2 species of tuatara are oviparous, producing only shelled eggs (Blackburn 1982, 1985; Shine 1985).

Academic text (1993)
Most oviparous lizards and snakes retain their eggs for two to three weeks.

Academic text (1993)
Rockfish fecundity apparently is lower than some comparable oviparous fishes, but the difference is not dramatic.

Academic text (1991)
Surgical removal of the corpora lutea causes premature oviposition in all oviparous lizard species examined.

Academic text (1993)
The biologist explained that oviparous animals have a unique reproductive strategy compared to mammals.
Many bird species are oviparous, producing eggs that hatch into chicks after a few weeks.

Synonyms

egg-producing

vsoviparous

1 4.1

Can lay eggs that become young animals

lays young that hatch outside the body

Antonyms

viviparous

Specialized

9.3

To give birth to live young that grow inside the mother's body

How Live-Bearing

viviparous

Specialized

9.3

ovoviviparous

Specialized

9.9

oviparous

Specialized

9.6

Surface Forms

oviparous positive

Morphology

oviparous = parous (semi-transparent) = ovi + parous

The word is compositional as 'ovi-' plus 'parous', but both parts are technical/learned forms rather than everyday English vocabulary.

Etymology

Oviparous comes from two parts: ovi- meaning 'egg', the same root in ovum and ovary, and -parous meaning 'to give birth' or 'to bear', like in 'parent'. So oviparous animals 'give birth' from eggs, meaning they lay eggs that hatch outside the body.