Police have arrested a 16-year-old who gave birth to a baby boy found dead on Sunday in a wooded area northwest of Montreal.

La Sûreté du Québec found the body Sunday afternoon near the town of Sainte-Sophie after receiving a telephone tip.

The baby's mother was arrested on Tuesday after police received the autopsy results, which revealed the baby was born prematurely and could have survived after birth.

Police believe the infant was born sometime on Sunday morning.

The mother was taken into custody after she was treated at a hospital, said SQ spokeswoman Chantal Mackels.

The teen's name can't be released to protect her identity under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.