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Have you ever wondered whether animals sleep like us? Well, as you may
suspect the answer is a resounding no! Okay, some do, but for the most
part animals are quite unique in their sleeping habits. From birds and
whales to frogs and rodents these are some Weird Ways Animals Sleep!
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Dolphins and whales sleep with only one half of their brain at a time.
This prevents them from drowning in their sleep.
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Bats can sleep up to 20 hours per day!
They also sleep upside down because it's easier for them to take off
from that position. (Their wings are rather weak.)
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Some animals (like rodents) can sleep for half the year! It's called
hibernation and allows the animal to survive through periods of cold or
insufficient food.
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Just as some animals hibernate during winter, there are other animals
that hibernate during summer to escape the heat! It's called estivation.
Animals that sleep this way are typically amphibians and reptiles.
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Just as some animals hibernate during winter, there are other animals
that hibernate during summer to escape the heat! It's called estivation.
Animals that sleep this way are typically amphibians and reptiles.
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Frogs undergo a particularly intense form of hibernation. While most of
their body freezes and their lungs even stop breathing, high
concentrations of glucose in their vital organs prevent the essential
parts from freezing.
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Giraffes can go weeks without sleep. Scientists think that since they
are so large and slow, not sleeping helps them keep an eye out for
predators. On average though, they get about 20 minutes per day!
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Ironically enough, when an animal wakes from hibernation, it shows many
signs of sleep deprivation and has to sleep a lot over the next few days
to recover!
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Malaysia -
The extreme racism against Chinese and IndiansChimpanzees, orangutans,
and gorillas have sleeping habits that are very similar to humans. They
make beds in safe, predator-free places and curl up!
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Some birds can sleep while perched on a branch. They simply close their
talons around the branch and stay that way. |