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Faking death lets some female frogs slip the mating grip of a male

Tonic immobility is just one trick for surviving mating mobs in species with grabby males

A photo of a female frog pretending to be dead in a male frog's mating embrace.

The “dead” female frog in this male’s mating embrace is only temporarily immobile. Looking dead is one way female European common frogs escape hyper-grabby males.

Carolin Dittrich

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Grab fast and hang on for hours. A fierce grip is all the courtship finesse a male frog needs in species that reproduce in frenzied mobs.