History Main / PregnantReptile

It should be noted that, despite what is often taught in schools about reptiles as egg-layers, quite a few species of snakes and lizards (as well as fish and worm species) are in fact [[RealityIsUnrealistic capable of carrying and bearing true live young]]; this is not a feature limited to mammals. In fact, an entire group of snakes-- vipers-- actually got their name because of this trait. Also, any egg-laying species that undergoes internal fertilization will carry the offspring within its body for a period, until it comes time to lay eggs.


SubTrope of ArtisticLicenseBiology and PregnancyDoesNotWorkThatWay. Contrast with WhaleEgg, in which a mammal reproduces the non-mammal way. Can go hand-in-hand with NonMammalMammaries. InterspeciesRomance examples count too if the character giving birth to the non-mammal is oviparous but the partner not giving birth is viviparous (never vice-versa though). See also MisterSeahorse for another trope about characters getting pregnant/giving birth when they biologically shouldn't be able to.

* Hutts from ''Franchise/StarWars'' are implied to be reptiles or amphibians, [[MisterSeahorse and are male, yet they are able to get pregnant and give birth]]. The StarWarsExpandedUniverse establishes that Hutts are hermaphrodites that prefer male pronouns.

* ''WebOriginal/HamstersParadise'': The rattiles are scaly cold-blooded lizard analogues but they still give birth to live young due to their mammalian heritage. However, they have lost their mammary glands and give birth to highly precocial young because the mothers either won't care for their offspring at all or will only put in a token effort to feed and protect them before leaving [[OffingTheOffspring so she doesn't eat them]] when her maternal hormones run out.

* ''WebOriginal/{{Serina}}'': A number of bird groups develop full viviparity over time.
** The vivas are flightless birds that carry their huge eggs until or even just after they hatch. The original species essentially brood fully formed eggs within their bodies, but later ones create increasingly neotenic and shell-less eggs.

* The formal scientific term for live birth is "viviparity". This is the primary form of reproduction among mammals, but there are also some snake, lizard, shark, and worm species which bear true live young instead of laying eggs (which is known as "oviparity"). As with mammals, these young are nourished through direct connections to the mother's body during pregnancy, often with some kind of placenta. Likewise, some frogs, fish, and other snakes are known as ''ovoviviparous'': while eggs are laid and develop inside the mother's body, they are not connected to or nourished by the mother's body as in ''viviparous'' (true live-birthing animal) species, and instead are nourished by a supply of yolk. The young then hatch and come out, giving the appearance of live birth.

** The same can be said for amphibians, including a few frogs and toads, the fire salamander, and several species of caecilians, give live birth instead of laying eggs.

** This is, in fact, how vipers (who are ovoviviparous rather than viviparous) got their name.

* ''Film/AlienResurrection'': It's unclear exactly what taxonomy the [[StarfishAliens Xenomorphs]] would belong to, but they're clearly not mammals since they reproduce through eggs and do not rear their young.[[note]]Under normal taxonomic rules, the correct answer would be "none" since they're not related to/descended from any Earth organisms.[[/note]] However, because of retaining some of Ripley's DNA after gestating inside her, the new Queen ends up birthing a live newborn.

* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'': "Potato Whore" has [[WesternAnimation/ToyStory Mrs. Potato Head]] [[ChocolateBaby giving birth to a carrot]], to which Mr. Potato Head replies, "You Whore".

** Among lizards, the two best-known species that bear live young are horned lizards and blue-tongued skinks. This is actually the reason blue-tongues are relatively expensive to purchase as pets; they don't bear nearly as many young as their egg-laying relatives.

* Aphids are tiny insects that not only incubate their eggs but are basically born pregnant. Each egg ovulated immediately begins development into an aphid embryo as it travels down the oviduct, and once said embryo's oviducts are developed enough, it starts ovulating itself, even ''before'' it's been born! Naturally, this coupled with the fact that all aphids are asexual females makes them one of nature's most prolific [[ExplosiveBreeder Explosive Breeders.]]
* Tsetse flies, unlike all other flies, give live birth. They even raise their larva on a bug analogue of milk while they are developing.

It should be noted that, despite what is often taught in schools about reptiles as egg-layers, quite a few species of snakes and lizards (as well as fish and worm species) are in fact [[RealityIsUnrealistic capable of carrying and bearing true live young]]; this is not a feature limited to mammals. In fact, an entire group of snakes-- vipers-- actually got their name because of this trait. Also, any species that undergoes internal fertilization will carry the offspring within its body for a period, until it comes time to lay eggs.

It should be noted that, despite what is often taught in schools about reptiles as egg-layers, quite a few species of snakes and lizards (as well as fish and worm species) are in fact [[RealityIsUnrealistic capable of carrying and bearing true live young]]; this is not a feature limited to mammals. In fact, an entire group of snakes-- vipers-- actually got their name because of this trait.

The animal does not necessarily have to be shown giving birth, as a pregnant belly is enough to show that it is a live birth [[note]] At least in fiction[[/note]]. Similarly, despite the title, if the non-mammal is shown birthing live young, they don’t have to be shown getting pregnant.

** Later mixed with InterspeciesRomance for Tuc Craks - [[https://youtu.be/cWf0rToW42c the lovechild of a crisp and a cracker]].

* Lara Le from ''ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogArchieComics'' is an echidna and has gotten pregnant before. Ironically, the same comic shows echidna eggs.

* ''Film/AlienResurrection'': It's unclear exactly what taxonomy the [[StarfishAliens Xenomorphs]] would belong to, but they're clearly not mammals since they reproduce through eggs and do not rear their young [[note]]Under normal taxonomic rules, the correct answer would be "none" since they're not related to/descended from any Earth organisms[[/note]]. However, because of retaining some of Ripley's DNA after gestating inside her, the new Queen ends up birthing a live newborn.

* Tsetse fliesm unlike all other flies, give live birth. They even raise their larva on a bug analogue of milk while they are developing.

** Among lizards, the two best-known species that bear live young are horned lizards and blue-tongued skinks. And even though blueys do well in captivity, this makes them relatively expensive to purchase as pets; they don't bear nearly as many young as their egg-laying relatives.

It should be noted that, despite what is often taught in schools about reptiles as egg-layers, quite a few species of snakes and lizards (as well as fish and worm species) are in fact [[RealityIsUnrealistic capable of carrying and bearing true live young]]; this is not a feature limited to mammals.

** Among lizards, horned lizards and blue-tongued skinks are two of the best-known species that bear live young. And even though blue-tongues do well in captivity, this trope makes them relatively expensive to purchase as pets; they don't bear nearly as many young as their egg-laying relatives.

** Among lizards, blue-tongued skinks are the best-known species that bears live young. In fact, this is the reason they're relatively expensive to purchase as pets despite doing well in captivity; they don't bear nearly as many young as their egg-laying relatives.

** Blue-tongued skinks are the best-known lizard species that bears live young. In fact, this is the reason they're relatively expensive to purchase as pets despite being low-maintenance to care for; even in captivity they don't bear nearly as many young as their egg-laying relatives.

** Blue-tongued skinks are the best-known lizard species that bears live young. In fact, this is the reason they're so expensive to purchase as pets despite being comparatively low-maintenance: they don't bear nearly as many young as their egg-laying relatives, even in captivity.

* ''Film/AlienResurrection'': It's unclear exactly what taxonomy the [[StarfishAliens Xenomorphs]] would belong to, but they're *clearly* not mammals since they reproduce through eggs and do not rear their young [[note]]Under normal taxonomic rules, the correct answer would be "none" since they're not related to/descended from any Earth organisms[[/note]]. However, because of retaining some of Ripley's DNA after gestating inside her, the new Queen ends up birthing a live newborn.