Scientists from a British university claim to have found an uncracked duck egg in a French pond containing three live minnows.
According to a report from the BBC, biologists from the University of Manchester found an entact duck egg in a small pond in the French alps and noticed something moving inside it. When they cracked the egg open, three live minnows were inside.
A picture accompanying the BBC report shows the 8-10cm long duck egg with three 6-8 cm minnows laying inside. "...we're baffled as to how the minnows got inside..."Dr Matthew Cobb, lecturer in animal behaviour, told the BBC: "As 21st century scientists rather than 17th century antiquarians and we think it's unlikely this represents a hitherto unknown mode of fish reproduction.
"Perhaps the egg fell into the pond following some kind of predatory attack, but we're baffled as to how the minnows got inside. Certainly, we didn't see any crack in the egg."
Henry McGhie, head of natural sciences at the Manchester Museum, and colleague Dr Matthew Cobb have written to New Scientist to see if any readers can shed any light as to how the minnows found their way into the egg.
If you have any ideas as to how the minnows got inside the egg, why not leave your theory by adding a comment to this story.