Why do terrestrial animals carry out this process?
2007-05-02 15:21:53 · 2 answers · asked by CyberKnight 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Sperm are delicate cells needing constant moisture to survive. Land animals cannot just place these cells outside the body and expect them to find their way to the correct place without a means of getting them there. The sperm is protected by bodily fluids and a physical means of getting it started on its journey. The number of sperm is less than those animals that might use the environment for fertilization (fish and amphibians) since they are protected by the female body.
2007-05-02 15:52:00 · answer #1 · answered by ATP-Man 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Aquatic organisms can manage external fertilization because the sperms can swim through the water to find the eggs.
Terrestrial animals will have better luck with internal fertilization, providing their own fluid for the sperms to swim.
2007-05-02 15:40:50 · answer #2 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋