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Supposedly a ruse to deceive predators..But it is more likely a nerve reaction to fear.
Incidentally, possums do not play dead. Possum is the name given to a variety of marsupials found entirely in Australia, New Guinea and parts of Indonesia. The animal which "plays dead" is actually the opossum. In reality, the saying should be playing opossum.
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∙ 14y ago
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∙ 14y agocause they cant protect themselves very well so its easier to play dead and pray that whatever scared it to leave... this is a really convinent time to put a bullet thru it, which i recommend anytime you see a opossum
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∙ 14y agoPossums are famous for "playing dead" when threatened, but this isn't completely accurate. They are not "playing" dead at all: the possum goes into shock when particularly stressed. While not dead, it can be found lying on its side with its legs extended and is, in fact, limp and unconscious during this time, like a person who has fainted.
Addition:
Possums do not play dead. Possum is the name given to a variety of marsupials found entirely in Australia, New Guinea and parts of Indonesia. The animal which "plays dead" is actually the opossum. In reality, the saying should be playing opossum.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThey don't. Opossums play dead but possums, completely different animals, do not. Possum is the name given to a variety of marsupials found entirely in Australia, New Guinea and parts of Indonesia. In reality, the saying should be playing opossum.
When opossums play dead, they go into a state of shock. This happens as an automatic defence mechanism when they are particularly stressed. they lie limp and unconscious, unresponsive nd with a barely discernible heart rate which, to predators, appears as death.
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∙ 12y agoPossums do not play dead. Possum is the name given to a variety of marsupials found entirely in Australia, New Guinea and parts of Indonesia. The animal which "plays dead" is actually the opossum. In reality, the saying should be playing opossum.
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∙ 10y agoThere are many reason why a possum plays dead. The biggest reason that possums play dead is that they want the animal attacking them to think that they are dead.
Wiki User
∙ 14y agothey are not playing; they fainted.
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Do pygmy possums play dead?
No. Australian possums, such as pygmy possums, do not "play possum" like the American opossum does. They are different species, with different habits.
What do possums do for fun?
Play dead of course.
Which animal plays dead and smells rotten to escape preadtors?
A opposum will play dead, but I have never known them to smell rotten. In fact, playing dead doesn't always work out to their advantage. I have many possums in my are, and everytime my dogs encounter them, they try playing dead, but my dogs aren't fooled. Poor possums.
Do possums play opossum?
No. Possums do not play opossum. This trait is unique to opossums alone.
How do possums avoid predators?
Possums don't kill their predators. In fact they play dead to confuse/trick their predator so they will leave the possum alone. They do kill/eat their prey so they are predators.Possums do not play dead. This is a characteristic of opossums which are quite different from true possums of the Oceania region. These possums so not kill predators, and the only prey they kill are usually insects - which are killed by immediate ingestion.
How long can possums play dead?
Possums do not play dead. Possum is the name given to a variety of marsupials found entirely in Australia, New Guinea and parts of Indonesia. The animal which "plays dead" is actually the opossum. In reality, the saying should be playing opossum. An opossum can play dead for anything between several minutes and a couple of hours.
Do possums really play dead when you ride your bikes past them?
sometimes yes, sometimes no...it depends entirely on the animal. It may feel threatened and play dead...or may feel threatened at attack.Note: Possums are native to Australia and some islands of the South Pacific. They should not be confused with opossumsof North America, which are very different creatures and so have different defence mechanisms. It is the opossum that "plays dead" to deter predators.
Do possums play when threatened?
no, they dont.
What do you call a dead animal that is laying on the road?
possums
I have possums on my property and I want to be able to make them pets. Will a possum bite when approached by a human?
if felt threatened they will play dead if that doesnt work they will switch to attack mode
Do opossums play?
No. Possums do not play opossum. This trait is unique to opossums alone.
How many times can a possum die?
One time, it can play dead infinitely, but once it is really dead, it is dead. This is the way of living things, they don't come back to life. If you see a dead possum moving that is most likely because it is a female and possums are marsupials and she probably has young in her pouch.
