Animal reproduction

In a nutshell

Most animals reproduce by sexual reproduction. This is when an egg and sperm combine, creating a fertilised egg. This fertilised egg develops into a baby.

Sexual reproduction

Sexual reproduction is common in most animals. It occurs when an egg from a female and sperm from a male fuse. This causes the egg to be fertilised and this fertilised egg becomes an embryo and then a foetus. After the foetus has developed, a baby is born. In humans and other mammals, the baby grows inside the mother, whereas in other animals the embryo grows outside the mother in an egg.