News Life Faking death lets some female frogs slip the mating grip of a male Tonic immobility is just one trick for surviving mating mobs in species with grabby males The “dead” female frog in this male’s mating embrace is only temporarily immobile. Looking dead is one way female European common frogs escape hyper-grabby males. Carolin Dittrich Share this:EmailFacebookTwitterPinterestPocketRedditPrint By Susan Milius November 1, 2023 at 8:00 am Grab fast and hang on for hours. A fierce grip is all the courtship finesse a male frog needs in species that reproduce in frenzied mobs.