Advanced search
Start date
Betweenand
Related content
(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Is it all death feigning? Case in anurans

Full text
Author(s):
Toledo, Luis Felipe [1] ; Sazima, Ivan [1] ; Haddad, Celio F. B. [2]
Total Authors: 3
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Estadual Campinas, Inst Biol, Museu Zool Prof Adao Jose Cardoso, BR-13083970 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[2] Usep, Inst Biociencias, Dept Zool, BR-13506970 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
Document type: Journal article
Source: Journal of Natural History; v. 44, n. 31-32, p. 1979-1988, 2010.
Web of Science Citations: 19
Abstract

Anurans are known to feign death as a way to avoid or minimize the risk of predation. However, information on this defensive strategy is scattered and we believe that there is more than one behaviour type referred to as thanatosis. Here we review the literature, add original data, and propose definitions and new names that complement the present knowledge on the subject. We collected information on 334 individuals of 99 species in 16 families and grouped the recorded displays into two categories of tonic immobility: (1) thanatosis, death-feigning, or playing possum, and (2) shrinking or contracting. These two categories are treated as different behaviour types because of the display pattern (position of fore-and hindlimbs, eye opening), presence of skin toxins (shrinking is mostly displayed by toxic species, whereas thanatosis is mostly displayed by non-toxic species), social context (interaction with predators), and their putative or actual functions. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 08/50325-5 - Conservation of Brazilian amphibians: a special focus on the Mata Atlântica
Grantee:Luis Felipe de Toledo Ramos Pereira
Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants