Army Medical Museum and Library: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:16, 11 February 2025

Apparent Death

Apparent death, also known as thanatosis or tonic immobility, is a behavior observed in various animal species where an individual feigns death to evade predators. This anti-predator strategy is employed by a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.

Mechanism

Apparent death is typically triggered by a threat or physical contact with a predator. The animal enters a state of immobility, often accompanied by a reduction in breathing and heart rate. This state can last from a few seconds to several minutes, depending on the species and the situation.

Examples in Nature

Opossums are well-known for their dramatic display of thanatosis, often referred to as "playing possum." When threatened, an opossum will collapse, become limp, and emit a foul odor to mimic the scent of a decaying carcass.

The Grass snake (Natrix natrix) is another example of a reptile that employs thanatosis. When threatened, it will roll onto its back, open its mouth, and may even release a foul-smelling substance to deter predators.

The Phyllomedusa burmeisteri, a species of tree frog, can also exhibit tonic immobility when threatened, remaining motionless to avoid detection.

The Common swift (Apus apus) may enter a state of apparent death when handled by humans, remaining still until the threat has passed.

In the insect world, the Iridomyrmex purpureus, a type of ant, can feign death to avoid predation by other ants or larger predators.

The Heterodon platirhinos, commonly known as the Eastern hognose snake, is famous for its elaborate death-feigning behavior, which includes convulsions and the release of a foul odor.

Evolutionary Advantages

The primary advantage of apparent death is to increase the likelihood of survival by deceiving predators into believing the prey is already dead and therefore not worth pursuing. This behavior can be particularly effective against predators that prefer live prey or are cautious of potential traps.

Related Behaviors

Apparent death is related to other anti-predator strategies such as camouflage, mimicry, and evasive maneuvers. Each of these strategies serves to reduce the likelihood of predation through different means.

Related Pages

Gallery

An opossum feigning death.
Grass snake playing dead.
Phyllomedusa burmeisteri in a state of tonic immobility.
Common swift exhibiting apparent death.
Ants in a defensive posture.
Example of a bird species that may use thanatosis.
Spider in a state of thanatosis.
Eastern hognose snake feigning death.

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-'''Army Medical Museum and Library''' is a historical institution that was established in the United States in 1862. The museum and library were created to collect and preserve medical artifacts and literature, with a particular focus on military medicine. The institution played a significant role in the development of medical research and education in the U.S. and continues to be a valuable resource for scholars and researchers.
+== Apparent Death ==
-==History==
+'''Apparent death''', also known as '''thanatosis''' or '''tonic immobility''', is a behavior observed in various animal species where an individual feigns death to evade predators. This anti-predator strategy is employed by a wide range of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects.
-The '''Army Medical Museum and Library''' was established during the [[American Civil War]] by [[Surgeon General of the United States Army|Surgeon General]] William A. Hammond. The museum was initially located in [[Washington, D.C.]], but was later moved to [[Silver Spring, Maryland]]. The library was one of the largest medical libraries in the world during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
-==Collections==
+=== Mechanism ===
-The collections of the '''Army Medical Museum and Library''' include a wide range of medical artifacts, such as surgical instruments, medical equipment, and specimens. The library holds a vast collection of medical literature, including books, journals, and manuscripts. The collections provide valuable insights into the history of medicine and the role of the military in medical research and development.
+Apparent death is typically triggered by a threat or physical contact with a predator. The animal enters a state of immobility, often accompanied by a reduction in breathing and heart rate. This state can last from a few seconds to several minutes, depending on the species and the situation.
-==Legacy==
+=== Examples in Nature ===
-The '''Army Medical Museum and Library''' has made significant contributions to the field of medicine. The institution has facilitated numerous medical discoveries and advancements, and has played a crucial role in the education of medical professionals. The museum and library continue to be a valuable resource for scholars and researchers in the field of medicine.
-==See also==
+* '''[[Opossum]]s''' are well-known for their dramatic display of thanatosis, often referred to as "playing possum." When threatened, an opossum will collapse, become limp, and emit a foul odor to mimic the scent of a decaying carcass.
-* [[National Museum of Health and Medicine]]
-* [[List of medical museums]]
-* [[Military medicine]]
-[[Category:Medical museums in the United States]]
+* The '''[[Grass snake]]''' (''Natrix natrix'') is another example of a reptile that employs thanatosis. When threatened, it will roll onto its back, open its mouth, and may even release a foul-smelling substance to deter predators.
-[[Category:Military and war museums in the United States]]
-[[Category:Libraries in the United States]]
-[[Category:Medical libraries]]
-[[Category:Military medicine in the United States]]
-{{US-museum-stub}}
+* The '''[[Phyllomedusa burmeisteri]]''', a species of tree frog, can also exhibit tonic immobility when threatened, remaining motionless to avoid detection.
-{{US-mil-hist-stub}}
-{{medicine-stub}}
+* The '''[[Common swift]]''' (''Apus apus'') may enter a state of apparent death when handled by humans, remaining still until the threat has passed.
+* In the insect world, the '''[[Iridomyrmex purpureus]]''', a type of ant, can feign death to avoid predation by other ants or larger predators.
+* The '''[[Heterodon platirhinos]]''', commonly known as the Eastern hognose snake, is famous for its elaborate death-feigning behavior, which includes convulsions and the release of a foul odor.
+=== Evolutionary Advantages ===
+The primary advantage of apparent death is to increase the likelihood of survival by deceiving predators into believing the prey is already dead and therefore not worth pursuing. This behavior can be particularly effective against predators that prefer live prey or are cautious of potential traps.
+=== Related Behaviors ===
+Apparent death is related to other anti-predator strategies such as [[camouflage]], [[mimicry]], and [[evasive maneuvers]]. Each of these strategies serves to reduce the likelihood of predation through different means.
+== Related Pages ==
+* [[Anti-predator adaptation]]
+* [[Camouflage]]
+* [[Mimicry]]
+* [[Predation]]
+== Gallery ==
+<gallery>
+File:Opossum2.jpg|An opossum feigning death.
+File:Grass_Snake_(Natrix_natrix_helvetica)_playing_dead_(14178349634).jpg|Grass snake playing dead.
+File:PhyllomedusaBurmeisteri_(6).JPG|Phyllomedusa burmeisteri in a state of tonic immobility.
+File:ApusApusKlausRoggel02.jpg|Common swift exhibiting apparent death.
+File:Iridomyrmex_purpureus_attacking_Rhytidoponera_metallica.jpg|Ants in a defensive posture.
+File:Adult_male_livingstonii.png|Example of a bird species that may use thanatosis.
+File:Latrodectus_geometricus_female_in_thanatosis.JPG|Spider in a state of thanatosis.
+File:Heterodon_platirhinos_2.jpg|Eastern hognose snake feigning death.
+</gallery>
+[[Category:Animal behavior]]