Dolphins - Sleeping

The dolphin may sleep in a number ways. It may pattern swim, moving in a slow repetitive circle while submerged. Or, it may sleep with its melon (the enlarged part of its head) above water, allowing the blowhole to function. The dolphin breathes voluntarily. In other words, it must tell itself to breath. Unlike the human, it cannot go into complete sleep; it would drown. It must continue to breathe while it sleeps. How does it do this? Very simply, it shuts down half of its brain, the other half remaining alert and reminding the resting animal to breath. After a few minutes sleeping in this manner, it awakens. Later, when it requires more sleep, it repeats this process, this time shutting the other brain half down. The dolphin sleeps about eight hours per day this way, assuring equal rest time for both halves of its brain.

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• dolphin

[5555cheese]

cool

[Renkel76]

@nuge456 actually they have a reflex that works even when they are fully sedated (and therefore both sides of the brain are asleep). It keeps them afloat when they need air and is seen mostly in dolphins in captivity.

[d4rkn3551133]

dolphins can sleep with one eye open and one eye shut.... its a fact..

[yamileths]

dead dolphin... lol

[axelchick100]

It looks dead

[nuge456]

the dolphins sleep with half of there barin awake and the other haalf asleep in order not to dron