Feigning Death

[Nightflight99]

There are a number of species that feign death as a defensive strategy, with Heterodon being the most prominent example in North America. This is a small picture series of that behavior in a rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus). I took these pictures in the southern African country of Swaziland as part of a field research project in December 2009.

Hope you guys enjoy it.

[prairiepanda]

Snakes have some of the best death-feigning techniques. Most other animals fail to look realistically dead(to a human), but some snakes, like this one, have really mastered the gross-dead-thing look.

[ManSlaughter33]

If I could bend and twist like a wet noodle I'm sure avoiding bears and cougars in the great white north would be much easier.

[prairiepanda]

If I could bend and twist like a wet noodle I'm sure avoiding bears and cougars in the great white north would be much easier.

You don't want to play dead when a cougar attacks, because when they attack their intent is usually to eat you. Playing dead is good against bears, though, since their attacks are normally just defensive.

[ManSlaughter33]

You don't want to play dead when a cougar attacks, because when they attack their intent is usually to eat you. Playing dead is good against bears, though, since their attacks are normally just defensive.

This was 100% a joke lol
I grew up in the woods I've scared off many a bear and big cats

[treaux]

I do that sometimes when they try to keep me late at work.

[dannybgoode]

Is it hognoses that flip right over to play dead and if you right then they flip straight back over?

Fascinating what defence techniques creatures come up with. And yes, that snake is doing a fine impression!!

[dross9615]

Is it hognoses that flip right over to play dead and if you right then they flip straight back over?

Fascinating what defence techniques creatures come up with. And yes, that snake is doing a fine impression!!

Yes thats right hognoses do. It's pretty interesting to watch happen.

[pet_snake_78]

One time a cougar jumped on me and then forced me into coitus for several hours. I've been back to that bar every night since.