How do annual cyprinodont fishes survive seasonal droughts?

Annual cyprinodont fishes, often referred to as annual fishes, survive seasonal droughts through a specialized life cycle adapted to temporary bodies of water, such as rain-filled pools and swamps.12

As the dry season approaches and their habitat begins to evaporate, these fishes mate and bury their eggs deep into the mud at the bottom of the pool. The adult fish then die, as their life span is typically limited to the duration of the wet season—often a year or less.132

The buried eggs enter a state of suspended development, remaining dormant in the mud throughout the drought. These eggs are highly resilient and can survive in this state for up to five years. When the next rainy season arrives and the pools refill with water, the eggs hatch rapidly, allowing the new generation to grow quickly and reach sexual maturity to continue the cycle.123