Play Dead

Thanatosis or tonic immobility is the term used to describe the tactic of playing dead. Many animals use tonic immobility for various reasons. Some play dead to lure in potential prey, others play dead when threatened. And some, like crows, play dead to protect a food source. Acting dead tells other animals, “This food is poisonous. Don’t bother stopping to feed.”

Virginia Opossums

The most well-known animal to play dead is the Virginia opossum. These North American cousins of kangaroos put a considerable amount of effort into their playacting. When threatened by a predator, opossums throw themselves onto their backs, bare their teeth, drool, and excrete a foul-smelling liquid from their anal glands all in an attempt to escape mortal danger.

If humans stumble across an opossum whose playing dead, they may suspect the animal’s suffering from rabies, but in fact, it’s all an act, a natural defense mechanism.

Texas Indigo Snakes

Texas indigo snakes—a subspecies of the eastern indigo snake—can grow up to 7 feet long and are found throughout Texas.  They’re not venomous, nor constrictors. Instead, they rely on muscular jaws to overpower and swallow their meals head first. Texas indigo snakes even hunt venomous rattlesnakes (they’re immune to the venom).

When threatened, these large snakes loosely coil their bodies, become immobile, and slack their jaws. If touched, they will rotate their bodies to remain belly down but otherwise remain still.

Ducks

Many species of ducks play dead when facing a dangerous situation. Researchers documented 29 out of 50 different wild ducks played dead when exposed to captive red foxes. This immediate collapse gives the duck a fighting chance should the fox lower its guard. The ducks remained still while the fox carried them back to den to escape later.

Japanese Quails

Another species of bird that plays dead is the Japanese quail. These animals do so for similar reasons to ducks – to avoid predators, such as cats, and wait for an opportunity to escape. When sleeping, Japanese quail also appear to be dead and can sometimes cause alarm to their owners.

Lemon Sharks

The lemon shark is an apex predator, yet they play dead, too. If turned onto its back, the lemon shark will not only play possum but also begin to exhibit labored breathing and the occasional tremor. This is especially interesting considering the lemon shark lay on the ocean floor and allow other animals to pick the parasites off its body. They have the ability to remain completely still and pump water over their gills to breathe.

Lemon sharks prey on fish, stingrays, and other sharks. The fact that they also use tonic immobility is remarkable since they don’t encounter many natural predators. They’re also not the only species of shark to exhibit tonic immobility.

Rabbits

Both domesticated and wild rabbits play dead. As a prey animal, it’s not all that surprising. Rabbits spend most of their time with their paws on the ground. If they’re thrown into a position where they can’t flee, they use tonic immobility as a defensive move.

Attention rabbit parents: Flipping a rabbit on its back may seem harmless, but it stresses their hearts and respiration. What is believed to be a form of hypnosis is actually an extension of their natural fight or flight reflex.

Pygmy Grasshopper

Native to Japan, the pygmy grasshopper displays a unique version of playing dead when threatened. Not only do they freeze but they spread out stiffened legs as far as possible in all directions. This death stance makes it nearly impossible for predatory frogs to attempt to swallow them. Thus, the frog moves on to easier prey.

Redback Spider

The redback spider is a close cousin of the black widow and are equally deadly to humans. Thankfully, they’re not normally aggressive toward us. Most bites occur when they’re trapped in clothing or shoes. Given its more docile nature, the redback spider resorts to tonic immobility when it senses danger outside its web. They curl into a ball and freeze till the threat passes.

Hognose Snakes

Hognose snakes are found throughout the world, and every variation plays dead. The eastern hognose resides in the Eastern half of the United States and prefers woodland environments. Although they grow to lengths of up to 46 inches, these snakes put on quite the show when faced with perceived dangers.

First, they writhe back and forth as if in pain while excreting an extremely foul odor. After some time, the snake collapses onto its back with its jaws slightly parted. It remains in this state even if a human were to prod or handle it.

Antlions

Antlions are extremely aggressive insects known for their predatory larva. They’re equally impressive at playing dead. If approached by a predator like an eagle or snake, the antlion closes its wings and goes limp.

With a literal myriad of species of the same name, the most astonishing is the Euroleon nostras. Researchers recorded this type of antlion playing dead for 61 minutes. All antlion species feign death, but that level of commitment deserves an award.

Called doodlebugs in the United States, antlion larva are ambush predators that attack from pits or hiding places and suck out the insides of their victims. These aggressive larvae need to consume enough food to sustain the adult evolution of the species as they don’t eat once their transformation is complete.

Central America Cichlid

The Central American cichlid plays dead to lure unsuspecting prey. This aquatic predator’s intricate markings give the illusion of a decaying fish. Because scavengers are attracted to an easy meal, they move in. The cichlid springs to life and attacks.

Farm Animals

Farm animals like cows, goats, and pigs don’t play dead by dropping, stiff-legged or limp. Instead, they go into a trancelike state for several minutes.

Pselaphinae Beetles

Another animal that plays dead to catch prey is the pselaphinae beetle. Instead of waiting in ambush, these beetles employ tonic immobility so ants can carry them away. Once they get inside an ant’s nest, they spring to life and feed on the ant larvae (the majority of their diet).

Black Widow Spiders

Black widows are the most venomous spiders in North America, but they don’t always bite when threatened or provoked. Instead, black widows often play dead. When their lives are at risk, they curl into a ball while releasing silk to aid its movement.

Blue Jays

Blue Jays play dead by slumping down, motionless. Sometimes, like their crow cousins, they’ll sprawl out with their wings spread, head flopped to the side. Some birdwatchers theorize this is a form of blue jay sunbathing. Or they’re playing a practical joke since they often surprise people by springing to life if disturbed. When threatened by predators such as cats and hawks, they will absolutely play dead.

Play Dead to Avoid Sexual Cannibalism

While most animals play dead to protect themselves from predators, some have to protect themselves from their mates. Sexual cannibalism, where the female eats the male before or after mating, is more common than you might think.

Nursery Web Spiders

Male nursery web spiders present females with an insect to initiate the mating process. When the female feeds on the insect, he will mate with her. Should the female not feed on the insect, the male spider will pretend to drop dead. He will only come back to life if she starts feeding on the insect. Or leaves.

 

Praying Mantis

Praying mantis are easily recognized by their long narrow bodies, a small head with large eyes, and oversized front legs held upright. To avoid being eaten by the female after mating, the male will play dead. They will only move again once the female has lost interest and left.

Dragonflies

Rather than playing dead to avoid predators or survive mating, female dragonflies play dead to avoid mating altogether. When an unwanted suitor approaches her, she will drop from the sky, crash, and play dead on the ground. Flying again only when the coast is clear.

Female dragonflies fake death because they only need to mate once to fertilize all their eggs. Mating a second time can damage their reproductive tracts.

Ladies, the next time you’re not in the mood, try the dragonfly move. It may be more effective than “I’ve got a headache.” 😉

Even Humans Play Dead

As part of the natural world, humans also play dead. Anyone who binges true crime has heard stories of victims who played dead to survive.

Thanatosis (tonic immobility; playing dead) is an anti-predator strategy that’s part of an innate defense cascade—activated when fight or flight is no longer possible—and involves the sudden onset of immobility (with or without loss of tonic muscular activity) and unresponsiveness but with preserved awareness.

Interestingly, thanatosis or tonic immobility occurs with some forms of REM sleep intrusion, like lucid dreaming or cataplexy, and in near-death experiences.

In Other News…

I taught Thoreau (one of Poe’s eldest sons who stays with the family as a sentinel) to say, “Wow.” Haven’t caught it on video yet. We’re hooking up a trail cam because he goes silent once I whip out my phone.

Some of you may have noticed my absence lately. After only releasing one book in 2021 (my worst year yet), I promised to write three novels this year. So far, I’m on track. One’s done, one’s half done, and the third is all planned and ready to go.

New Books!

HALOED, Grafton County Series, Book 5, releases in a few weeks. Still waiting for a cover, but the hand up date is in couple weeks. Yay!

Mayhem Series, Book 5, should release later this summer or early fall. And I’m hoping to finish Book 6 by then, as well. Barring no interruptions, Book 6 could potentially release during the holidays.

I hope you’ve enjoyed all the ways animals play dead. Mother Nature’s remarkable. Isn’t she?