Table of Contents
How did possums evolve to play dead?
Wild animals have various defense mechanisms, and the opossum has the oddest of all. They play dead to avoid confrontations with predators. This is an involuntary response to a stressful situation that causes the opossum to go into shock. The opossum has no control whatsoever over this reaction.
What are some behavioral adaptations of an opossum?
The Virginia opossum has many behavioral adaptations it uses to survive. When threatened, it will exhibit behaviors like running, growling, belching, urinating, and even defecating. Sometimes it will “play” possum” and roll over, become stiff, and drool. Its breathing will become slow and shallow.
Is a possum playing dead an adaptation?
While these responses are relatively common responses to threatening situations in the animal world, opossums have another unique adaptation for dealing with predators called ‘playing dead. ‘ When opossums play dead, they don’t simply lie on the ground, close their eyes or stare blankly into space and stay still.
Why do possums pretend to be dead?
Playing dead is regarded as an instinctive response from an Opossum, as the prospect of facing danger can send the animal into a temporary shock. The shock experience by the animal will induce the animal to go into a comatose that may last for between 40 minutes or more than 3 hours.
How do opossums play possum?
Its body goes limp, its breathing appears to stop, and its tongue sticks out, but it’s not merely pretending… Opossums don’t actually play dead when they’re threatened. Instead, they involuntarily enter a catatonic state. This defense mechanism is intended to confuse its attacker and allow the possum to escape.
What is it called when an opossum plays dead?
Apparent death, colloquially known as playing dead, feigning death, or playing possum, is a behavior in which animals take on the appearance of being dead.
What type of adaptation is playing dead?
Apparent death is known as playing dead, feigning death, or playing possum. It is a behavior in which an animal takes on the appearance of being dead. This form of animal deception is an adaptive behavior and also known as tonic immobility or thanatosis.
Do possums feel pain when playing dead?
The animal doesn’t feel any pain and has no reflexes when this occurs. It even stops blinking its eyes. A possum won’t respond no matter what a predator does, even if swats, bites or breaks the possum’s bones.
Do ringtail possums play dead?
Playing dead No, they don’t, they make a sound, you can listen to it on the following post: Strange Australian Back Garden Beastie Sounds.
Is this possum dead?
Commonly after an hour, the ears of the Opossum start to move slightly. This is your indicator to know that it’s an actor 🙂 After four hours of stiff ears, you can be pretty sure that you are looking down on a dead animal. Call the competent authority (local veterinarian, wildlife rehabilitator, animal control etc.)