Playing dead

Playing dead
A variety of animals escape death by playing dead. This defense is called death feigning. Animals that play dead may seem as if they are offering themselves up on a platter. Yet, many predators hunt prey in response to movement. Many animals also do not eat prey that they have not killed. By playing dead, an animal may make its attacker lose interest. A predator may also get careless if its prey seems to be dead. It may relax its grip and give the prey a chance to escape.

Many insects are known to feign death. These insect actors include many species of beetles, grasshoppers, stick insects, and caterpillars. Some insects curl up and remain still. Others let go of branches and drop to the ground. Certain reptiles, such as chameleons and many tree snakes, also drop to the ground and lie still.

Many birds also go limp when caught by a predator, and then instantly “come back to life” at the first chance for escape. Baby ospreys play dead in the nest when their mother gives a warning call.

Going limp and lying still works well for many animals, but a few species deserve Academy Awards for their death-feigning skills. Among these “best actors” are the opossum and the hognose snake, both found in North America.

An opossum defends itself at first by growling, hissing, and showing its teeth. If this does not frighten away the dog or other animal that is threatening it, the opossum “drops dead.” It rolls onto its side, rounds its back, and goes limp. Its tongue lolls from its open mouth. Its eyes close halfway—just enough to let it keep track of its predator. An opossum will keep playing dead even if the predator bites it. It does not revive until the predator goes away and the coast is clear again.

Hognose snakes also use other defenses before resorting to playing dead. A frightened hognose snake will first raise its head, spread its neck wide, and hiss. Then, it will produce a bad smell. If this act fails, the snake flips onto its back and lies still. like the opossum, it opens its mouth and lets its tongue hang out. If it is picked up and placed on its belly, it will keep flipping onto its back and playing dead.