Female frogs can play dead to avoid male frogs, researchers find in a new study.
The phenomenon has evolved for the females to survive an intense and dangerous mating season.
“Amazing behaviour,” says ecologist and research leader Carolin Dittrich.
Frogs have a short and intense mating season where the males compete for the females. In a new study published in the journal Royal Society Open Science on Wednesday, the researchers talk about how the mating season is often “intense and potentially dangerous” for the females.
The males usually become aggressive during the mating season. Males can harass, intimidate and force themselves on females to mate, writes ABC News who took part in the study.
Risk of getting stuck in “mating balls”
Hongrodors also run the risk of getting caught in so-called “mating balls”, which means that several males cling to them to compete for their attention, which can lead to death.
The researchers behind the study have discovered an “amazing behavior” in the females. Namely, they can play dead to avoid the attention of the males.
According to the ecologist Carolin Dittrich, who is behind the German study, the female frogs extend their arms and legs in a manner similar to corpse stiffness.
Dittrich notes that there are few other studies that support other vertebrates playing dead to avoid mating. Some insects such as spiders and dragonflies can play dead to avoid predators.