Sleep is very important to animals; it’s a time of rest and re-energizing the body and mind. Generally, humans need at least eight hours of sleep to ensure a healthy state of mind and body. Some animals sleep for very short periods, while others we will discuss in this article can sleep for hours on end. Here are five animals that sleep in longer than you on a Saturday afternoon.
Tigers
These huge, ferocious cats are the first on our list. They are found in eastern parts of Russia but are more dominant in Asia, present in about 13 countries. They can thrive in different habitats and are known to be one of the best predators on earth.
Courtesy: Freepik
Surprisingly, these big cats sleep a lot. They sleep for about 15-19 hours a day! The amount of food they consume (up to 80 pounds of meat at once has been thought to be one of the reasons they rest for long periods as they need to digest.
Koala
Koalas are found in Australia and are more common in the eastern and southeastern parts. They live in eucalyptus forests, and they feed on eucalyptus leaves. They are known to be good tree climbers and also move slowly.
Courtesy: Britannica
When it comes to sleep, these nocturnal animals are highly ranked, as they sleep for about 18-22 hours per day. Koalas sleep to save energy as they feed mainly on eucalyptus leaves, which harm other animals. Their digestive system has to work hard to break down the toxins, thus providing them with limited energy.
Chipmunk
Chipmunks are commonly found all over North America, except for the Siberian chipmunks, natives of northern Asia. They are known to possess cheek pouches capable of stretching three times the size of their heads.
Courtesy: Wikipedia
Chipmunks sleep for about 15 hours every day. Their size is thought to be a major factor, just as other small animals need more sleep than larger animals. During winter, they sleep for long periods to conserve energy.
Brown Bats
Brown bats, or little brown bats, are popular in North America; they dwell in forest areas close to water sources. These creatures are well able to feed on about 1,000 insects every hour! They utilize high-frequency sounds and echolocation to find prey and also navigate.
Courtesy: A-Z Animals
These mouse-eared bats sleep for about 19 hours every single day, and they sleep upside down. The general thought and belief is that they sleep so long to conserve energy. During winter, they also spend about six months in hibernation.
Python
Pythons are big, non-venomous snakes found majorly in Africa, Asia, and Australia. They’ve also been introduced into the United States. Pythons are known for their peculiar predatory methods. They find prey with heat sensors present in their jaws, grab with their curved teeth, and curl tightly around the prey till death.
Courtesy: Freepik
Pythons are also known to be good sleepers, as they sleep for almost 18 hours per day. One of the major reasons they sleep so long is to conserve energy. They consume a huge mass of food at once, so they need a lot of energy to digest the meal. Snakes don’t have eyelids, so they sleep with their eyes open!
