Difference between Oviparous and Viviparous animals (Oviparous vs Viviparous)

Oviparous animals are animals that lay eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother.

Example of Oviparous animals:  This is the reproductive method of most fish, amphibians, reptiles, all birds, the monotremes, and most insects, some molluscs and arachnids.
Viviparous animals are those that give birth to live young.

Examples of viviparous: Marine mammals such as whales and dolphins, pinnipeds, sirenians and sea otters. Viviparous plants (Mangroves)

Oviparous animals  vs Viviparous animals

• Oviparous animals lay fertilized or unfertilized eggs.
• The fertilized eggs remain covered by hard calcareous shell and laid in safe place in the environment. After a period of incubation young ones hatch out.
• Chances of survival of young ones is less as the female lay egg in the open environment.

Viviparous animals

• Viviparous animals birth to young ones.
• The fertilised egg (zygote) develop into a young one inside the body of the female organism.
• Chances of survival of young one is more  because of proper embryonic care and protection inside the mother’s body.

Learn more: Difference between Oviparity vs Viviparity vs  Ovo viviparity