Re: Possums (A Challenge)

[zbbrox@aol.com]

If I recall correctly, it's similar to that. They don't actually pass 
out in fear, but they don't "play" either--They instinctually induce 
something like a coma in themselves. They can actually lie there 
playing dead long after the threat has passed because they're only 
partially conscious.

-----Original Message-----
From: David Marjanovic <david.marjanovic@gmx.at>
To: DML <dinosaur@usc.edu>
Sent: Thu, 05 May 2005 22:34:50 +0200
Subject: Re: Possums (A Challenge)

   > If I remember correctly, possums don't actually play dead, they 
more 
> pass out in fear. 
 
 Perhaps they _automatically_ play dead? Instinctively? Like, as a 
reflex? As a genetically determined -- and thus inheritable and 
selectable! -- wiring pattern in the brain?