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How does an opossum fool predators by playing dead?

Imagine being chased by a big fox. What would you do—scream, run, hide? And the possum does the most amazing thing in the world: it falls down, closes its eyes, and… looks dead. It’s called thanatosis, or «playing dead.».

But this is no ordinary game! The possum is not actually pretending consciously. From great fear, its body "turns off" - like when a computer's protection is triggered and it goes dark. The possum's muscles stiffen, its breathing slows down so much that it is almost invisible, its tongue sticks out, and a liquid with a terrible smell of rotten meat begins to emanate from its body. Brr!

The predator will run up, sniff - phew, dead, and rotten. And go look for a fresh dinner. And the possum can lie like that from a few minutes to 6 hours! When the danger passes, it wakes up, shakes itself off and runs on with its business as if nothing had happened.

Opossums are the only marsupials in North America. Like kangaroos, they carry their babies in a pouch on their belly. A mother opossum can have up to 13 babies at a time, and they all cling to their mother, even riding on her back!

And you know what else is interesting? Opossums are almost never rabid and are not afraid of snake venom. Their blood contains a special substance that neutralizes the poison. Scientists are currently studying this substance to create better medicines for humans. It turns out that this funny beast with a bare tail and a perpetually frightened look can save millions of lives. Don't judge an animal by its appearance!