Skip to content
Condition: National Header False
Listen
Search
Please enter at least 3 characters.

Latest Stories

Catching some zzz's: Find out which animals barely get any sleep and which ones get the most

Everyone needs a good night’s rest, but as with humans, not all sleep is created equal.

Not every animal needs the same amount of sleep to feel rested and rejuvenated.


Tom Stalf, president and CEO of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium said that basic survival likely forced animals to develop unique sleep habits as part of “adaptation,” according to Discover.

Giraffes are known as the mammal that sleeps the least.

Despite being the tallest and weighing up to 3,000, they reportedly only need 30 minutes of shut-eye per day.

According to a study from 1996, that refers to deep sleep with their total time spent sleeping being closer to 4.5 hours.

The outlet notes that they take a series of quick “power naps” several times a day, which they do while standing to protect themselves from predators.

Elephant’s are also not big on sleep

Researchers monitored two free-roaming African elephants and found that they slept approximately 2 hours per day and also standing up.

“Sometimes you’ll see them lean up against a tree or something to take some weight off their body,” Stalf explained.

Lions, on the other hand, love to catch some zzz’s. Male lions sleep nearly 20 hours a day, while female lions at least 15. Tigers are similar.

Koalas also fall into that category as the Australian Koala Foundation notes they sleep anywhere between 18 and 22 hours a day.

Brown and black bears in North America take it a step further and hibernate for up to eight months.

“Some of these animals are inactive for an entire season,” Stalf says. “It’s amazing.”

And then there’s fish, who sleep without closing their eyes since they don’t have eyelids.

LISTEN NOW on the RADIO.COM App
Follow RADIO.COM
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram