• By Sakshi Srivastava
  • Tue, 22 Jul 2025 02:54 PM (IST)
  • Source:JND

In a surprising discovery from the animal kingdom, researchers have found that female European common frogs sometimes pretend to be dead to escape unwanted attention from male frogs during the chaotic breeding season. The behavior — called tonic immobility — is usually seen in animals trying to avoid predators.But this study, published in Royal Society Open Science, shows that female frogs are now using it as a last resort to avoid being overwhelmed by males.

Too Much Attention, Too Little Time

Led by behavioral ecologist Carolin Dittrich from the Natural History Museum in Berlin, the study focused on the frog’s “explosive” mating period — a short, hectic time when males aggressively compete for female partners.

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Sometimes, the competition turns dangerous. Groups of males have been seen forming “mating balls” — where several cling to one female, putting her at risk of suffocation or injury. Dittrich initially wanted to see if males preferred larger females (who can lay more eggs), but the results showed that males were not choosy at all.

Smart Escape Moves

To deal with the overwhelming attention, female frogs were seen using escape tactics — like twisting to free themselves, mimicking male calls, and finally, playing dead.

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“The most surprising thing was how many females simply froze and pretended to be dead,” Dittrich told ABC News. “This helps them avoid being held down by males.” Since female frogs only get one chance to reproduce each season, they’ve evolved ways to stay safe and in control, the study says.