How do foul-smelling secretions help opossums and Eastern hognose snakes during tonic immobility?

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A fluffy gray cat clings to the trunk of a tree, looking upward as it climbs to escape. — Avoidance behaviour Cat fleeing by upward climbing.

In the context of tonic immobility—a defensive state where an animal appears lifeless to avoid predation—the production of foul-smelling secretions by the Virginia opossum and the Eastern hognose snake serves as a critical survival mechanism.12

These putrid secretions are thought to signal microbial spoilage, which is characteristic of long-dead animals. By mimicking the scent of decay, these animals effectively repel predators that might otherwise consume them. This chemical defense, combined with the animal's rigid posture and unresponsive state, reinforces the illusion of death, making the prey appear unappealing or unsafe to eat.12