The Reproduction of Animals

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Learn about it!
• There are two types of reproduction that exists in living
organisms: asexual and sexual reproduction. Asexual
reproduction is common among lower form of animals
while sexual reproduction can be found in more complex
animals.

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Asexual Reproduction
• This type of reproduction does not need two parents to produce an
individual. Therefore, the offspring produced is the exact copy of the
parent animal. Most common forms are fission, fragmentation, and
budding.

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• Fission is a type of asexual reproduction wherein two
individuals will form as the parent divides in half. The
illustration below shows a sea anemone undergoing fission.

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• Fragmentation, the breaking of body parts into fragments, is always
followed by regeneration and regrowth of lost parts. Even if the animal
is broken into many pieces, each piece will grow into a new individual.
Planarians, as shown in the illustration below, as well as sponges,
cnidarians, bristle worms, and sea squirts reproduce by fragmentation.

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• Budding is when an outgrowth called a bud grows and develops from
the parent animal and would eventually separate to become a new
individual. This type of reproduction is common in certain species of
coral and hydra.

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Sexual Reproduction
• Sexual reproduction needs two parents to produce an
offspring. The combination of the genes from both parents
increases the chances of species variation. Therefore, species
extinction is highly unlikely. Fertilization, the union of egg and
sperm cells, could happen internally or externally.

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External Fertilization
• In external fertilization, the union of egg and sperm occurs
outside the female reproductive tract. This is common among
most species of bony fish and amphibians. As shown in the
illustration below, the clasping of the male frog induces the
female to release eggs, over which the male releases his sperm
• Most eggs of the amphibians develop in the water but others
carry them on their back or in their vocal sacs as shown below.

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Internal Fertilization
• In internal fertilization, the union of egg and sperm occurs
within the female reproductive tract. Animals that undergo in
this type of reproduction produce offspring in any of the
following ways: oviparity, ovoviviparity, and viviparity.

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• Oviparity – after the eggs are fertilized internally, it would complete its
development outside the mother’s body. The egg would receive its
nourishment through its yolk. This is found in some bony and
cartilaginous fish (including clown fish and blue tangs), most reptiles,
some amphibians, all birds, and a few mammals (monotremes).

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• Viviparity – the eggs are developed internally and receive nourishment
directly from the mother’s blood through placenta rather than from the
yolk. This can be found in most cartilaginous fish (including lemon sharks),
some amphibians, a few reptiles, and almost all mammals including
humans.

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• Ovoviviparity – the eggs are also fertilized internally and receive its
nourishment through its yolk. However, eggs will complete its
development within the mother. They are then fully developed when they
are hatched and released by the mother. This is common in some bony
fish (including mollies, guppies, and mosquito fish), some cartilaginous
fish, and many reptiles.

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 Explore!
• Jellyfish reproduction involves both sexual and asexual reproduction. Sexual
reproduction occurs in the adult stage where males release sperm and females
release eggs. When sperm and egg combine, it will form a small larva called planula.
These planulae will attach to rocks and become polyps. During this stage, they can
reproduce asexually by elongating then budding off to produce many young
jellyfish. 
• Why do you think many species of jellyfish produce offspring extraordinarily
quickly?

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 Try it!
• Tell whether the following scenarios are under asexual or sexual reproduction and
state the advantages and disadvantages of having these qualities.
• offspring are genetically variable
• every offspring is genetically identical
• slower rate of reproduction
• faster rate of reproduction
• needs only one parent to produce an offspring
• needs two parents to produce an offspring
• extinction of species is unlikely

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 What do you think?
• Earthworms are hermaphrodite, contains both eggs and sperms. When
mating, the two worms are lined up against each other with each head
facing in opposite directions. Sperms are only passed from each other
which then fertilize each other’s eggs. Then a cocoon forms in each
worm.
• In spite of having both eggs and sperms, why do earthworms do not
self-fertilize?

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 Key Points
• Reproduction is an important feature of living organisms because it ensures continuity of species.
• The two types of reproduction that exist in living organisms are asexual and sexual reproduction.
• Asexual reproduction involves only one parent to produce a new individual. The offspring is the
exact copy of the parent animal. Most common forms are fission, fragmentation, and budding.
• Fission is a type of asexual reproduction wherein two individuals will form as the parent divides in
half.
• Fragmentation involves the breaking of body parts into fragments. Each piece will regenerate and
become a new individual.

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 Key Points
• Budding is when a bud grows and develops from the parent animal then would eventually separate
to become a new individual.
• Sexual reproduction needs two parents to produce an offspring. The combination of the genes from
both parents increases the chances of species variation.
• Fertilization could happen internally or externally.
• External fertilization involves the union of egg and sperm outside the female reproductive tract.
• Internal fertilization involves the union of egg and sperm within the female reproductive tract.
Animals that undergo in this type of reproduction produce offspring in any of the following
ways: oviparity, ovoviviparity, and viviparity.

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