10 Animals That Fake Their Own Deaths

8. The Death-Feigning Opossum: Playing Dead for Survival

The opossum is famous for its dramatic defense mechanism of playing dead, or thanatosis, to avoid predation. When threatened, an opossum will collapse, drool, and emit a foul odor, convincingly simulating death. This behavior deters predators that prefer live prey or are wary of consuming carrion. The opossum's ability to convincingly feign death is an evolutionary adaptation that has allowed it to survive in a world full of predators. This tactic is a testament to the diverse strategies animals employ to ensure their survival in the wild.