Thanatosis (from Greek adjective θανàτωσιs meaning "putting to death") is the process by which an animal feigns death in order to evade predation. It is a phenomenon known in invertebrates such as the Hymenoptera Nasonia vitripennis[1] and the Orthoptera Gryllus bimaculatus[2], but also in vertebrates such as Didelphis marsupialis[3].
References
edit- ^ King, B. (2006). "Variation in Propensity to Exhibit Thanatosis in Nasonia vitripennis (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae)". Journal of Insect Behaviour. 19 (2): 241–249. doi:10.1007/s10905-006-9022-7.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ Nishino, H. (2004). "Motor output characterizing thanatosis in the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus". Journal of Experimental Behaviour. 207: 3899–3915.
- ^ Francq, E. (1969). "Behavioural aspects of feigned death in the opossum Didelphis marsupialis". American Midwest Naturalist. 81: 556–568. doi:10.2307/2423988. JSTOR 2423988.
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