Have you ever wondered how many hours of sleep some animals can get? It's surprising to discover that, in the animal world, There are true lovers of rest who far exceed the hours that humans need to feel renewed.From cute marsupials to fearsome predators and tiny insects, the animal kingdom hides a amazing diversity of sleep-related behaviors.
On this tour you will get to know the animals that sleep the most on the planet, delving into the evolutionary and physiological reasons that lead them to sleep so much, how they do it, in what habitats, and what their most fun curiosities are. In addition, you will discover Scientific facts and surprising anecdotes that will make you look at the way each species rests with different eyes. Get ready because, after reading this article, You might envy the naps of some of these sleepyheads!
Why do some animals sleep so much?
Sleep is a fundamental function for all living beings, although The duration and quality of rest varies greatly depending on the species. This difference is due to biological, evolutionary and environmental factorsMany animals sleep for much of the day because their metabolism, diet, or lifestyle requires it. For example, herbivorous animals with nutrient-poor diets often save energy by remaining motionless and resting for long periods.
Other animals They depend on the environment in which they live: In habitats with low temperatures, they resort to prolonged sleep or even hibernation to withstand extreme conditions. In contrast, predatory species reserve energy by sleeping between hunts. The age, social adaptation and body sizeThus, newborns, both human and animal, sleep much more than adults.
La nature of animal sleep is also different. While humans share a REM sleep pattern, many animals alternate periods of deep lethargy with short phases of alertness. There are even species able to sleep with one hemisphere of the brain active, like some marine mammals or birds, to protect themselves from potential threats.
List of animals that sleep the most hours
Among the great champions of sleep in the animal kingdom are a wide variety of species, including mammals, marsupials, birds, and even reptiles. Below, we show you the top sleepy animals according to scientific studies and the most prestigious lists shared by experts and educators.
- Koala
- Lazy
- Bat
- Opossum
- León
- Tigre
- Armadillo
- Lemur
- Domestic cat
- Dog
In addition to these, there are other animals such as the mole, the opossum, the shrew, the tupaya, the squirrel and, to a lesser extent, the ferret that also appear on international lists of the biggest sleepers. Sleep hours can vary, but in many cases these animals manage to sleep between 16 and 22 hours a day, far surpassing adult humans who only dedicate 7-8 hours a day to rest.
The koala: the undisputed king of sleepers
The koala takes all the honors when it comes to sleep. This marsupial, endemic to eastern Australia, can sleep up to 22 hours a dayThe main reason for their lethargy is their diet: they feed almost exclusively on eucalyptus leaves, which are very low in nutrients and toxic to most species. To digest this diet, the koala needs to expend as little energy as possible, and therefore It spends much of its life clinging to tree branches, motionless and lethargic..
Koalas also have a metabolism adapted to their habits: they always sleep where they eat and rarely move except to look for new branches. Their thick, fluffy fur also allows them to withstand sudden temperature changes while resting.
Sloth: The Master of Slowness
If there's one animal whose name says it all, it's the sloth. This friendly inhabitant of the rainforests of Central and South America is known for its quiet life and its love of rest. Sloths can get to sleep up to 20 hours a day, and they spend long periods lying down or hanging from trees almost without moving.
The explanation for their sleepiness also lies in their metabolism and diet: they feed on leaves with very few nutrients, which they digest extremely slowly (sometimes a complete digestion can take up to a month). To avoid expending excess energy, they minimize any movement and take advantage of the natural protection of the treetops. slow digestion and life at high altitudes making them ideal for sleeping for so many hours in a row.
Bats: the kings of the hanging dream
Bats, famous for sleeping upside down in dark, damp caves, are extremely sleepy animalsDepending on the species, they can sleep between 18 and 20 hours a dayTheir daily routine consists of resting during the daylight hours and going out to hunt insects, fruit, or small rodents at night.
The cave environment, with its stable temperatures and lack of predators, is ideal for deep rest. Furthermore, sleeping upside down allows them to protect themselves and be ready to quickly escape if they detect danger. The little brown bat is thought to be one of the species that sleeps the most, reaching almost the same level of torpor as the koala.
Armadillo: The armored sleeper
The armadillo is another of the great champions of sleep. These mammals covered in bony plates live mainly in Latin America and They can sleep up to 19 hours a day, especially larger species like the giant armadillo. Their main activity occurs at night, when they forage for ants, termites, and small insects near their burrows.
The uniqueness of their natural "armor" allows them to feel safe when resting. Most armadillos don't even leave their homes to sleep: They spend much of their lives in caves dug by themselves, where they barely have to move to find food. This combination of nocturnal habits, low activity level, and physical protection makes the armadillo one of the sleepiest animals on the planet.
Lion and tiger: the predators that sleep the most
In the world of felines, the lion and the tiger stand out as true champions of sleep. A male lion can sleep up to 20 hours a day., while females and cubs also rest for long periods, although they are usually more active caring for the pack or searching for food.
This lethargy is due to the fact that Hunting requires enormous amounts of energy, that's why big cats make the most of the rest periods between hunts. In the case of the tiger, it can sleep up to 16 hours in a row, especially after traveling long distances or defending their territory.
In both cases, sound sleep is key to maintaining mental acuity, physical strength, and coordination in your daily activities.
Domestic cat and dog: the sleepyheads who keep us company
Among the sleepiest animals in the world are also two of the most beloved companions of human beings: the domestic cat and the dog. Cats can sleep between 14 and 18 hours a day, although they often alternate between short and long naps, especially in warm, quiet places in the house. This habit of sleeping so many hours comes from their wild ancestors, who needed reserves of energy to hunt and survive in hostile environments.
El dog He also stands out for his fondness for sleep, especially if they have a quiet life without much stimulation. Depending on the breed, age and size, they can sleep a few 12 to 16 hours dailyPuppies and older dogs increase these numbers. Furthermore, both cats and dogs seek out the most comfortable and warmest place in the house to sleep, which explains their preference for soft beds, pillows, or corners where they receive sunlight.
Other big sleepers: lemur, opossum and ferret
The list of animals with the greatest need for sleep also includes lesser-known but equally fascinating species. lemur, for example, is a small primate from Madagascar that can sleep up to 16 hours a dayThey live in very active social groups and usually organize their rest periods so that adults are always watching over the group. Females also protect their young by cradling them in a kind of nest, while males stand around them to provide warmth and protection.
La opossum, a marsupial from America, is also among the sleepiest animals, with up to 19 hours of sleep per dayTheir nocturnal lifestyle and omnivorous diet lead them to seek out as much rest as possible during the day. On the other hand, the ferret, although less well-known than dogs or cats, can sleep between 12 and 18 hours a day. While they alternate periods of intense activity with prolonged lethargy, their sleep pattern is less deep than that of other animals: it sometimes takes them several minutes to fully wake up.
Animals with atypical sleeping habits
While many animals spend much of their lives asleep, there are others that have truly strange sleep patterns. For example, the killer whale can go more than a month without sleeping during breeding season, as well as the chinstrap penguin They are able to survive resting in "naps" of just 4 seconds. In other cases, such as some insects, they can remain dormant for weeks, especially when environmental conditions are unfavorable.
It should be noted that not all animals sleep the same way. Some, such as certain aquatic mammals, only disconnect one hemisphere of the brain while the other remains active to monitor breathing and vigilance. Others, like migratory birds, alternate between ultra-short sleep cycles while flying. This astonishing variety of rest patterns demonstrates how diverse and surprising the natural world can be when it comes to sleep.
How much sleep does each animal get, according to experts?
Science has managed to measure, albeit with difficulty, how many hours of sleep some of the most well-known species get per day. Below is a brief summary of the averages reported in the articles and studies reviewed:
| Animal | Daily sleep hours |
|---|---|
| Koala | 20-22 horas |
| Lazy | 18-20 horas |
| Bat | 18-20 horas |
| Opossum | 18-19 horas |
| León | 18-20 horas |
| Tigre | 16-17 horas |
| Armadillo | 18-19 horas |
| Lemur | 15-16 horas |
| Domestic cat | 14-18 horas |
| Dog | 12-16 horas |
These values can vary depending on the animal's environment, age, and health status. For example, young and older animals tend to sleep more, while lactating or breeding females significantly reduce their sleep time.
Curious questions about animal sleep
Throughout the articles analyzed, interesting questions arise about other sleepy animals or those with unusual habits. For example, Is it true that the groundhog sleeps a lot? y How much does a dormouse actually sleep? Although the marmot is famous for its winter hibernation, it's actually not among the animals with the longest daily sleep time year-round. Dormouse, on the other hand, can hibernate for several months, but outside of hibernation, its sleep time is shorter than that of the aforementioned champions.
The case of the shrew and the aardvark is also striking. While both species can experience long periods of dormancy, they don't always maintain the same rhythms throughout the year. Other animals, such as the squirrel and the mole, alternate days of maximum activity with others of true relaxation.