We all enjoy our naps, some more than others. But there are animals who think nothing of snoozing for up to 20 hours a day. Others would rather be more productive, and trade in sleeping hours for an all-you-can-eat buffet. As humans, running on little to no sleep definitely slows us down. Nothing quite replaces a good eight-hour sleep at night or a delicious afternoon nap on a hot day. In the animal kingdom, things work differently. From quirky sleeping positions to unbelievably long nap times, here are some animals with unique sleep habits.
Lions caught cat napping
The king of the jungle takes the term ‘catnap’ to a whole new level. On average, lions spend over 14 hours each day napping. Male lions sleep even more, 18-20 hours a day on average, while the females are out hunting prey for the pride. India’s Gir National Park is home to the only population of Asiatic lions. In this arid forest region, you are more than likely to spot a pride of lions sprawled around catching some Zs. Days are hot, and lions need to conserve energy before they hunt.
Elephants grab forty winks
For such a mammoth creature, an elephant spends only a miniscule part of its life snoozing. On average an elephant sleeps only two to three hours a night. Most of the time, it does this standing up, stopping for a nice lie down only once every two or three nights. Some nights they don’t’ get any shut-eye at all. Clearly, the time an elephant spends sleeping is inversely proportional to its size. So what do they spend their time doing? Feeding takes up most of their day, and sometimes the pachyderms will be snacking for a good 20 hours of the day. It’s all about priorities.
Sweet dreams for Indian fruit bats
Have you ever looked into the treetops during the day to find hundreds of bats hanging out? Chances are that you’ve spotted a roosting fruit bat colony. Among India’s largest bat species, Indian fruit bats or the flying foxes sleep through the day and emerge only at night. They hang upside down from branches, wrap their large wings around themselves like a cosy blanket, and tuck themselves in for a good 20 hours or so of shuteye.
Crocodiles in repose
In many of India’s rivers, such as the Chinnar, Thennar, or Pambar in the south, it’s not uncommon to spot crocs basking on sunny rocks, taking a snooze. Snooze is really a misnomer, for the crocodile’s rest time could last for up to 17 hours a day. These reptiles don’t need to eat every day, so much of the time that other creatures might spend on hunting and feeding can be put towards a well-deserved slumber. Often a crocodile will sleep with one eye open, to keep tabs on any activity in the vicinity.
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