Weird Science: Playing Possum?
John PhD
Star Educator
Popular
Average rating:5.0Number of reviews:(202)
In this one-time class, students will learn about the strange behaviour of some animals that can help in their survival!
Class experience
Science can be beautiful, miraculous, and sometimes downright weird! Ever wonder why some animals play dead? It turns out, there's more to this curious behaviour than meets the eye. Join us for a thought-provoking one-time class as we delve into the intriguing world of animal catatonia and explore the evolutionary reasons behind this fascinating phenomenon. Similar to how certain behaviours have played pivotal roles in human evolution, the concept of animals playing dead carries its own...
Young scientists will learn about the potential purposes playing dead may serve in animal survival.
Select References: Humphreys and Ruxton (2018). A review of thanatosis (death feigning) as an anti-predator behaviour. Behavioural Ecology and Sociobiology Miyatake et al. (2004). Is death-feigning adaptive? Heritable variation in fitness difference of death-feigning behaviour. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences Clerici and Veneroni (2011). The Impossible Escape: Studies on the tonic immobility in animals from a comparative psychology perspective. Nova Novinka
Hello, Outschoolers! My name is John and I have been a scientist and educator for over 15 years. I hold a Bachelor of Science (Honors in Biology), Master of Applied Sciences, and a Ph.D. in biology. Over my BSc, MSc and PhD I have designed and...
Group Class
$21
per classMeets once
25 min
Completed by 2 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 9-14
2-10 learners per class
