| |
Diapause is not unique to killifish, arrest or delay of embryonic development can occur in many animals if environmental conditions are not favourable. For example, when some bird eggs become cold, they stop growing until they are re-warmed.
Some killies, known as annuals, spawn every day, because in nature, when the pond dries up, the eggs go into a hibernation phase known as diapauses.
Like some killifish and lungfish, it relies on 'diapause' for reproduction, making it very easy to hatch out from dry eggs.
Through a series of developmental stages, followed by diapause, the eggs continue to survive for extended periods of time. When the rains return, and the water level rises, the eggs are once again submerged.
[Fig 6] Formation of this shell initiates a state of metabolic dormancy (diapause), and the cysts are released by the female (oviparous reproduction) where they float to the shoreline and dehydrate.
 See also: Annual, Water, Species, Killifish, Spawn
  
|
RSS
