Which reproductive strategy describes fish that lay eggs and do not give birth to live young?

• A. Bubble-nest builders
• B. Egg-layers
• C. Egg-scatterers
• D. Livebearers

Answer: (B)

This question tests understanding of how fish reproduce in terms of laying eggs vs giving birth to live young. When a fish lays eggs and does not give birth to live young, it is exhibiting an egg-laying strategy, or oviparity. The broad label for this approach is egg-layers, which covers species that deposit eggs into the surrounding environment (some may guard or incubate them, as in bubble-nest builders, while others release eggs more broadly into the water, as with egg-scatterers). In contrast, livebearers give birth to live young, which is viviparity. So the term that best describes fish that lay eggs and do not give birth to live young is egg-layers.