Final answer:
The animal described is engaging in mouth brooding, a parental care behavior where species such as certain fish carry fertilized eggs in their mouths for protection until hatching. This behavior can be seen in other animals as well, and is accompanied by various forms of protective strategies in different species.
Step-by-step explanation:
This animal is engaging in a form of parental care known as mouth brooding. Mouth brooding is a reproductive strategy where some species of fish, such as the cardinalfish, carry their fertilized eggs in their mouth until the eggs hatch. This behavior serves to protect the eggs from predators and provide a safe environment for the developing embryos. When it is time for the eggs to hatch, the parent fish might build a specific structure or go to a specific location to release the now developed fry. This nurturing behavior can also be seen in different animal groups, including some species of bony fish and crocodilians.
For example, the male seahorse has an abdominal brood pouch where the eggs are retained and fertilized, and where offspring develop before being released. Similarly, female crocodilians have been observed carrying their offspring in their mouths for protection. Reptiles and birds lay eggs with hard coverings for protection, while ovoviparity is a process in which the embryo is nourished from the egg's yolk within the body of the female, observed in certain species of fish, lizards, and snakes.