Differentiate Between Internal Fertilisation and External Fertilisation

Q. Differentiate Between Internal Fertilisation and External Fertilisation

Answer: Internal fertilisation is directly deposited into the female body, whereas external fertilisation is released into the external environment. Internal fertilisation is the fusion of the gametes inside the female body. In contrast, external fertilisation is in an external environment which we can say is like water bodies. The quantity released by the internal fertilisation is lesser; they are directly deposited inside the female body. External fertilisation produces many gametes that, too, both males and females, are released into the external environment. 

Only male gametes are injected into the female genital tract in internal fertilisation. In contrast, both females and males are discharged to the external surroundings in external fertilisation. 

The development of the gametes is one of the main concepts after the gametes are released. In internal fertilisation, they grow in the female body. In contrast, in external fertilisation, they grow outside the body. In internal fertilisation, there are many merits. They have a high chance of survival as the parents nourish them, the success in the fertilisation rate is very high, and the chances of survival in harsh conditions are high. 

For external fertilisation, the offspring’s production is many, finding a mate is very easy, and competition between the parents and the child is less. A few demerits accompany every merit, so finding a mate requires energy in internal fertilisation. Most of the contribution is from the female counterpart; few offspring are being reproduced. In external fertilisation, they can be preyed on very easily as they are in the external environment; most of the time, the offspring go unfertilized.

Therefore, internal fertilisation and external fertilisation are very different from each other. One can be carried out in reptiles, birds, mammals, etc. In contrast, external fertilisation can only be carried out in fish, algae and amphibians.