Question

What is the difference between viviparous animals and oviparous animals ?

Answer 1

Based on the production of young ones, animals can be oviparous or viviparous animals.

Oviparous animals	Viviparous animals
Oviparous animals are the animals which lay eggs. e.g. Hen, Frog, Fish. External fertilisation involving the union of male and female gametes outside the body is observed in oviparous animals.	Viviparous animals are the animals which give birth to the young ones. e.g. Human being, Cat, Tiger. Internal fertilisation involving the union of male and female gametes inside the body in viviparous animals.
Oviparous animals lay eggs which hatch into larvae. Larvae undergo different stages before attaining the adult stage. Larvae undergo moulting in many cases to attain adult stage. Some of the larval stages undergo metamorphosis to attain adult stage.	Viviparous animals exhibiting internal fertilisation protect the growing embryo in their womb till it develops almost all of its organs and organ systems. This protection period in the womb is called as gestation period. As the embryo gets developed into the foetus, it is delivered into the outside environment as a young one.