There are three different forms of how different types of reptiles bear their young.
- oviparous - the mother lays the eggs and then the young hatch, all outside the mother's body
- ovoviviparous - the eggs are hatched inside the mother's body, before the young come out.
- viviparous - the mother gives birth to her young. These reptiles nourish their young in the uterus in yolk sacs, unlike mammals do in the uterus in plasenta.
- Here's a quicktime video on a smooth snake giving birth:
Pretty interesting, I always assumed all reptiles laid eggs, 'cos I don't recall seeing pythons or crocodiles giving birth.
