MEANING
An anti-predator behavior in which an animal feigns death or remains motionless to reduce the risk of attack.
Use it for
A biologist needs a precise term for an animal’s death-feigning defense.Useful in animal behavior and ecology when describing a defensive response that imitates death.
On the page
The beetle’s thanatosis caused the bird to lose interest.
Word forms
- Base
- thanatosis
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