Thanatosis

Pronunciation
/than-uh-TOH-sis/
Category
Behavior
Singular
Thanatosis
Plural
Thanatoses

Definition

A behavior in which an animal feigns death to evade predators.

Etymology

From Greek 'thanatos', meaning 'death', and '-sis', a suffix meaning 'process or action'.

Example

When threatened, the Brazilian tarantula may exhibit thanatosis by remaining motionless and appearing dead to avoid predation.

Synonyms

Related Terms

  • Predator avoidance
  • Defensive behavior
  • Mimicry

Usage Notes

Thanatosis is observed in various insects and arachnids, as well as some reptiles, birds, and mammals. It can be a highly effective survival strategy.