The alternation of periods of wakefulness and sleep is very important not only for humans, but also for animals. Thanks to this, the organism of living beings rests and gains strength to continue life. But unlike humans, each animal sleeps differently.
Sleep of large animals
The sleep of large animals, as a rule, is short, but there are exceptions among them. Lions, tigers and other large predators of feline breeds can sleep 15-20 hours a day. Such a long time is necessary to lead an active life, full of energetic jumps and chases while hunting. They sleep on the ground or in trees, so as not to disturb other inhabitants of the animal world.
For about 13 hours gorillas sleep, settling on the ground or bitches in the most relaxed positions: on their back, stomach and even on their side. Many lean their backs against a tree during sleep. Other members of the monkey family sleep for a shorter time - from 7 to 10 hours.
But elephants only need 3-4 hours of sleep per day. Adult elephants usually sleep while standing, placing heavy tusks on thick tree branches or trellis openings in captivity. However, if desired, they can sleep like young ones - lying on their stomach and even on their side, stretching their legs and trunk. As a rule, the whole herd never sleeps soundly - someone always remains on guard.
Horses, goats, cows and most other ungulates sleep the same amount.
The shortest time for sleeping among large mammals is necessary for a giraffe - only a couple of hours. He sleeps only at night, curled up in a kind of ball and resting his neck on his back or burying his head in the ground. At the same time, the duration of sound sleep does not exceed 20 minutes per day.
Bears spend little time sleeping in spring, summer and autumn, but in winter they hibernate in their den. Wolves sleep very lightly, especially lone wolves or those that are in a den with their cubs.
Seals sleep at the bottom of water bodies, rising to the surface every five minutes to take a breath of air. And sea lions sleep on their backs in the water, like a man.
The proportion of REM sleep in newly born animals is higher, and as they grow older, it decreases.
Small animal sleep
Small animals usually sleep very lightly and for a longer time than large animals. This happens for several reasons: the presence of constant danger around, short life expectancy and rapid metabolism. Many of them, by the way, prefer naps. Among them, for example, porcupines, badgers, owls, bats and others.
The longest sleep among rodents in marmots. They spend almost 70% of their lives in a dream, and their hibernation can last from 4, 5 to 9 months, depending on the weather conditions in the place of residence. Only the dormouse, which is awake only 2-3 hours a day, can argue with the marmot.
Foxes always carefully prepare for bed, choosing a hole and spinning in it for a long time, and then curl up into a ball and wrap their tail around themselves. Foxes in pairs always sleep next to each other, gathering in one tangle. 7-8 hours are enough for them to sleep.
Squirrels sleep 15 hours a day, taking breaks to eat or take care of their cubs. But moles - 2-3 hours several times a day. Domestic cats and dogs sleep more than others, because they do not have to worry about finding food.
Birds often sleep, but their sleep is always light, and their eyes are constantly opening slightly. Fish do not sleep at all - they rest, being in a motionless state. Dolphins do not have a deep sleep phase either, since after a certain period of time they must necessarily jump out of the water in order to take in air. For 5-6 hours, their right and left halves of the brain alternately rest - this process replaces sleep with them.
