Trophic egg

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Trophic egg is an egg which is not laid for reproduction but for nutrition, often for offspring hatched from regular eggs. Trophic eggs are usually unfertilised.

Numerous groups of animals use trophic eggs. Several species of frogs which live in the canopies of tropical rainforests lay their eggs in the water that collects inside Bromeliaceae plants. Usually each tiny reservoir receives one fertilised egg and one or more trophic eggs to feed the emerging tadpole. Trophic eggs users also include several species of ants, such as the leafcutter Atta sexdens, and some spiders.