Female frogs appear to fake death to avoid unwanted advances, study shows

Experts previously thought female frogs were unable to choose or defend themselves against ‘male coercion’. Photograph: imageBROKER/Rex/Shutterstock

When it comes to avoiding unwanted male attention, researchers have found some frogs take drastic action: they appear to feign death.

Researchers say the findings shed new light on the European common frog, suggesting females do not simply put up with the male scramble for mates – a situation in which several males can end up clinging to a female, sometimes fatally.