Dizzy growth like African fish

Experts have identified the fastest growing vertebrate, only 17 days to reach the reproductive stage since the eggs hatch. It is a small fish that lives in temporary black pools in the continent .

According to experts from the Institute of Vertebrate Animal Biology at the Czech Academy of Sciences, Nothobranchius kadleci began to reach reproductive age within 17 days of hatching eggs.

Nothobranchius kadleci, the record for growth of vertebrates - (Photo: Wikipedia)

Even some eggs take only 15 days from the time the eggs hatch to the first litter, the shortest time between generations among the vertebrate species.

Experts Martin Reichard and colleagues drew the conclusion when conducting a study on the development cycle of two wild fish species in southern Mozambique, specializing in stagnant pools in the rainy season.

'Biologically, the ability of rapid sexual maturity in these species is especially important because their habitat may dry out within 3-4 weeks,' says BBC expert Reichard.

The fish also has an amazing growth rate, with some individuals growing to nearly a quarter of their adult length within a day.