What does ovoviviparous mean?

• A. Eggs hatch outside the body
• B. A cycle of reproduction without eggs
• C. Giving birth to live young with placenta
• D. Producing living young from eggs that hatch within the body

Answer: (D)

Ovoviviparous means the embryos develop inside eggs that stay in the mother's body until they hatch, so the young are born alive, but there is no placenta or direct nutrient transfer from mother to embryo. The eggs hatch within the body, producing living offspring.

This description fits because there is internal hatching and no placental nourishment. In contrast, eggs hatch outside the body describes oviparous reproduction, giving birth to live young with a placenta describes viviparous reproduction, and a cycle without eggs doesn’t apply to this concept. Examples include some sharks and certain reptiles.