From the
glossary of terms used in behavioral ecology,
animal behavior, and
evolution thanotosis is defined as playing dead; death-feigning behavior.
I guess "
playing possum" isn't
scientific enough.
Source:
http://www.zoo.ufl.edu/be/pages/glossT_Z.html
Also mentioned in a site about vampire clans:
"Samedi-- "Stiffs or Zombies" Disciplines: Thanotosis, Necromancy, Obfuscate"
members.aol.com/SilasMcbth/index2.html