9 Animals That Play Dead to Survive

Key Points:

• Thanatosis, or tonic immobility, is the term used to describe the tactic of playing dead.
• Playing dead is generally a defensive measure that may make a predator lose interest or lead to a chance for escape.
• The eastern hognose snake, pygmy grasshopper, and lemon shark are among the animals that play dead when threatened by a predator.

Thanatosis, or tonic immobility, is the term used to describe the tactic of playing dead that certain species of animals use for various purposes. Some will play dead to lure in potential prey, and others play dead when faced with a lethal threat to themselves. Tonic immobility can also refer to situations where an animal, convinced it cannot escape death, stops resisting and gives up. In this context, ‘playing dead’ is not a defense mechanism but rather a response to extreme stress, often seen in hoofed animals that have been forced to the ground by predators. Once a hoofed animal is on the ground, it is very easy to keep it there and very difficult for the animal to regain its feet. As a result, these animals go into shock.

In this article, we’ll discuss nine animals that play dead to survive contact with a predator, and these animals all have a unique twist.

1. Virginia Opossum

The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the creature that the hallmark phrase playing possum is based on. This animal is the only marsupial native to the United States and Canada, and they are frequently referred to as a possum even though they belong to a completely different genus. Also known as the North American opossum, these cousins of kangaroos put a considerable amount of effort into their playacting.

When threatened by a bobcat or other predator, opossums will throw themselves onto their backs, bare their teeth, drool saliva out of their mouths, and excrete an extremely foul-smelling liquid from their anal glands all in an attempt to escape mortal danger. These actions often lead people to suspect that the opossum may be suffering from rabies, but in fact, they are simply part of its natural defense mechanism. Opossums are also scavengers, and this behavior can be life-threatening when they are frightened by cars while investigating roadkill and play dead in the middle of the road.

2. Texas Indigo Snake

Texas indigo snakes (Drymarchon melanurus erebennus) are a subspecies of the eastern indigo snake, and they have been known to play dead as well. These snakes can grow up to seven feet long and are found throughout Texas. They are neither venomous nor constrictors, and they have to rely on their muscular jaws to overpower and swallow their meals headfirst. Texas indigo snakes even hunt venomous rattlesnakes and are immune to their venom. When threatened, these large snakes have been recorded loosely coiling their bodies and becoming immobile. They even part their jaws to give a slackened appearance. If they are manipulated by hand during this thanatosis, then they will rotate their bodies to remain belly down but will otherwise remain still.

3. Duck

Many species of ducks will feign death when facing perceived dangers to include those as well-known as the North American wood duck (Aix sponsa) and the mallard (Anas platyrhynchos). Researchers have documented that 29 out of 50 different wild ducks played dead when exposed to captive red foxes. This immediate collapse at least gives the duck a fighting chance should the fox lower its guard. It was also discovered that the ducks would remain still for long enough to even be brought back to the fox’s den in an attempt to escape later. Experienced foxes quickly learned that, due to the prevalence of thanatosis among ducks, they needed to inflict fatal or crippling injuries even on ducks that appeared to be dead.

4. Lemon Shark

The lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) is interesting in that it is an apex predator and yet is one of the animals that play dead. If the lemon shark is turned onto its back, then it will not only play possum but also begin to exhibit labored breathing and the occasional tremor. This is especially interesting when considering that the lemon shark is known to lie 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 upon many types of fish, stingrays, and even other sharks. The fact that they also use tonic immobility is striking since they do not have contact with significant natural predators. However, they are also far from the only species of shark to exhibit tonic immobility.

5. Rabbit

Both domesticated rabbits and those in the wild have exhibited thanatosis, but this is not entirely surprising considering their status as prey animals. Domesticated rabbits that are used as pets (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are sometimes put into a trance by their owners. This takes advantage of the rabbit’s natural self-preservation instinct, which can be mistaken for affection or relaxation. In reality, rabbits spend most of their time with the majority of their paws on the ground. If they are placed in a position where they feel unable to flee, they will display tonic immobility as a defense. What is believed to be a form of hypnosis is actually an extension of their natural fight-or-flight reflex and can even be stressful for the animal. Researchers have confirmed this stress by monitoring rabbits’ heart rates and respiration while in this condition.

6. Pygmy Grasshopper

The pygmy grasshopper (Criotettix japonicus) has displayed a unique version of playing possum when faced with danger. They completely freeze just like the other members of our list, but in addition, they also splay their legs out as far as possible in all directions and make them stiff. That makes it nearly impossible for the predatory frogs to even attempt to swallow them. These grasshoppers are native to Japan, and this individualized approach to death feigning fits perfectly in with the threats that they are most likely to face. Predation by so-called sit-and-wait hunters would leave the grasshopper vulnerable if it simply played dead, without also extending its body parts in all directions to make swallowing more difficult. This prevents the frog from swallowing them immediately and greatly increases the chance that the grasshopper will survive.

7. Redback Spider

The redback spider (Latrodectus hasselti) is a close cousin of the black widow spider, and they are equally deadly to humans. Thankfully, these spiders are not aggressive towards humans, so the majority of the bites are when the spiders are trapped between clothing or shoes and skin. The redback has also been known to be much more aggressive when defending its eggs. Both sexes of the spider bite at equal rates, but the female is responsible for far more instances in which the victim receives a dose of venom. Given its more docile nature, it may not come as a surprise that this spider is more likely to respond with tonic immobility when it senses danger outside of its web. Redback spiders are one of the animals that play dead and will curl into a ball and remain completely frozen in place. These spiders are native to Australia but have migrated to New Zealand, Japan, and several other countries through fruit imports.

8. Eastern Hognose Snake

The eastern hognose snake (Heterodon platirhinos) is the second snake to make our list, and this one does a much better job of selling the act. Hognose snakes are primarily found in North America, with some species in Central and South America, and several species are known to perform thanatosis. The eastern hognose primarily 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 a show when faced with what they believe is dangerous. The eastern hognose snake first begins to writhe back and forth as if it were in pain, while at the same time excreting an extremely foul odor. After some time, the snake collapses onto its back with its jaws slightly parted and lies there unmoving. It will remain in this state for some time, even if you were to prod or handle it.

9. Antlion

Antlions are insects known for their extremely aggressive and predatory larvae, as well as their remarkable ability to play dead. Although there are many species referred to as antlions, this article specifically discusses Euroleon nostras. This antlion was recorded by researchers who had played possum for 61 minutes.

Called doodlebugs in the United States, antlion larvae are ambush predators that attack from pits or hiding places and suck out the insides of their victims. These larvae are so aggressive because they need to consume enough food to sustain their adult stage, as they do not eat once their transformation is complete. There is such a wide variety of animals that play dead when facing danger that this list just scratches the surface. The vast majority of insects experience tonic immobility in some fashion, and there is another entire group of wild animals that play possum for other reasons, such as to hunt or mate more effectively.