Question

A red-eyed tree frog's eggs may respond to vibrations in their environment to hatch early. If red-eyed tree frog eggs can survive after only five days of development, why does it usually take them seven days to hatch?

Answer 1

There may be a benefit to the eggs to remain in the protective shell for a longer period of time, allowing for additional growth and development before entering the environment as a vulnerable tadpole. Additionally, the seven-day incubation period may be necessary for the embryos to fully develop and absorb necessary nutrients from the egg yolk before hatching.