Prolonged Natural Deferment of Hatching in Killifish

The drying up of flooded lowlands stranded eggs of Fundulus confluentus, which were unhatched and viable after as much as 3 months' exposure. The eggs were found in the moist plant debris on the soil surface. When ovigerous sods were immersed in tap water, normal fish hatched within 15 to 30 minutes.