Thanatosis
- Pronunciation
- /PLAY-ing POS-sum/
- Category
- Behavior
- Singular
- Playing possum
- Plural
- Playing possum
Definition
A defensive behavior where an insect or arachnid feigns death to avoid predation.
Etymology
Derived from the American opossum's behavior of feigning death when threatened.
Example
When threatened, some beetle species will start playing possum to deceive their predators into thinking they are dead.
Synonyms
- Thanatosis
- Death-feigning
Related Terms
- Defensive behavior
- Predation
- Mimicry
- Thanatosis
Usage Notes
Playing possum is a survival tactic used not only by some insects but also by other animals, including various arachnids and small mammals.