Abandoned frog eggs can hatch early

Embryos react to dereliction of parental care

STANDARDS OF CARE  A clutch of Fleischmann’s glass frog eggs, nicely plumped up with water, depends entirely on dad (shown) to avoid drying out — and will react if he quits on the eggs.

Courtesy of J. Delia

If deadbeat dads among frogs shirk their parental duties, neglected egg clutches can respond by hatching early.