What is tonic immobility in animals?”
Tonic immobility is a natural state of paralysis that animals enter, in most cases when presented with a threat. ————- Tonic immobility Tonic immobility is a natural state of paralysis that animals enter, in most cases when presented with a threat. Some scientists relate it to mating in certain animals like the shark. Some sharks can be placed in a tonic immobility state by turning them upside down. The shark remains in this state of paralysis for an average of fifteen minutes before it recovers. Scientists have exploited this phenomenon to study shark behaviour.[1] Usually when testing sharks under this “tonic” state, scientists will put a chemical plume in the water awakening the shark. Sharks may not always respond to tonic immobility by physical inversion of the animal, as has been done with lemon and reef sharks. With tiger sharks 10 to 15 feet in length, tonic immobility may be achieved by placing hands lightly on the sides of the animal’s snout approximate to the general
