What term is used for the fertilization that takes place outside the bodies of the parents?

External fertilization refers to the process in which fertilization occurs outside the bodies of the parents. This method is commonly observed in various aquatic organisms, such as fish and amphibians, where eggs and sperm are released into the water. The sperm then swim to the eggs to fertilize them. This process can lead to a large number of offspring in a single reproductive event, as many eggs can be fertilized simultaneously in the open water.

In contrast, internal fertilization occurs inside the female's body, which is typical of many terrestrial animals, including mammals, reptiles, and birds. Asexual reproduction refers to methods of reproduction that do not involve the fusion of gametes, resulting in offspring genetically identical to the parent. Gametic fusion is a broader term that could apply to both internal and external fertilization but does not specifically denote the location of fertilization as external fertilization does.