How long can annual cyprinodont eggs remain alive in dry mud?

Annual cyprinodont eggs, which are produced by certain atheriniform fishes known as annuals, can remain alive in dry mud for up to five years.1

These fishes inhabit temporary bodies of water that dry up seasonally. As their habitat begins to dry, the fish mate and bury their eggs in the mud, where the embryos enter a state of suspended development. The eggs remain dormant in the mud throughout the dry season and hatch rapidly once the next rainy season provides sufficient water.12