Halloween costumes are a bit of fun for us, but for some animals, playing dead is a matter of survival. From theatrical hognose snakes to remarkably convincing opossums, nature has perfected the art of appearing lifeless. Discover the strange science of thanatosis, and the predator that uses it to catch a meal. New for The Attentive Naturalist, on Substack. https://substack.com/home/post/p-218389790
Virginia opossum image: Tony Alter 2011; Eastern hognose snake image: North Carolina Zoo 2026.
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