ScienceAugust 15, 2026

viviparous

vy-VIP-uh-rus

Definition

Characterized by bringing forth live young rather than laying eggs.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'vivus' (alive) and 'parere' (to bring forth/bear). It entered English in the 17th century to describe biological organisms that reproduce by giving birth to live young.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe an ancient mammal ancestor, the cynodont, suggesting it gave birth to live young long before previously thought. This shift in understanding challenges the timeline of when mammals developed this reproductive strategy.

Memories Mysteriously Survive After Brain Shutdown, And Scientists Don’t Know Why

Read the full article ↗

404 Media

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