Animal Lovers Web Forum

It seems that a number of species of animals pretend to be dead as a defence mechanism. Some are very dramatic about it.


http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/...r-science/

I have Hognose snakes and even knowing that they do this does not prepare you for the sight of your snake pretending to die. I came home and found my female on her back dead. I was stunned until I noticed that her tongue was twitching. She was fine and came out of it after I picked her up.

The Hognose snakes are small so it is probably the best way to survive in a world of larger predators.

playing dead is a good defence mechanism, which probably works in the wild.

I am sure in the wild it does work. That trait in a pet can lead to heart stopping moments. My hognose female, Amy, has done it to me a number of times. I know her species plays dead, so why do I fall for it every time.