We observed death feigning with stiff-legged posture in several indivi- duals of the Brazilian tree toads Dendrophryniscus brevipollicatus and D. leucomystax. This behaviour was formerly described for three other phylogenetically unrelated Brazilian leaf-litter frogs. Besides their cryptic colouration, tonic immobility during this posture strongly enhances the resemblance of these anurans to fallen leaves on the forest floor. This behaviour seems to have evolved independently in different lineages as a very effective defensive mechanism against visually oriented predators, especially vertebrates.