Blackburn, D.G. (2000a). Classification of the
reproductive patterns of amniotes.
Herpetological Monographs 14: 371-377.
Abstract: The classification of reproductive patterns inherited from the 19th century reflects mammalian biases and fails to capture our understanding of amniote reproductive diversity. Much more useful is a bipartite classification that fully distinguishes between two separate reproductive parameters -- sources of nutrients for development, and state of the reproductive product at emergence from the mother. "Oviparity" and "viviparity" are used in their literal senses to refer to "egg-laying" and "live-bearing" reproduction. "Lecithotrophy" refers to provision of nutrients to the embryo via the yolk, and "matrotrophy" to provision by alternative means (e.g., a placenta, a pattern termed "placentotrophy"). Use of these terms has several advantages, including elimination of confusion associated with the archaic term "ovoviviparity". The system also recognizes commonality between patterns involving maternal provision of nutrients before birth or hatching (e.g., to eggs and embryos) and afterwards (to neonates). Growing consensus around the bipartite classification of reproductive patterns reflects recognition of the importance of a common biological vocabulary that applies widely across traditional methodological, disciplinary, and taxonomic boundaries.
Reprints: daniel.blackburn@mail.trincoll.edu