in ovoviviparous species the foetus is fed inside the female with special cells of the oviduct, which are eaten by the foetus with special scraping teeth. some larvae, such as those of "typhlonectes", are born with enormous external gills which are shed almost immediately. the egg laying species "boulengerula taitanus" feeds its young by developing a special outer layer of skin, which the young peel off with similar teeth. "ichthyophis" is oviparous and is known to show maternal care.