When Does Spiders Sleep?
WouterSpiders don’t sleep in the same way as humans. They don’t close their eyes and don’t enter REM sleep. Instead, they have a special sleep mode, which is similar to the way your computer sleeps.
When a spider isn’t busy, it decreases its metabolic rate, allowing it to relax and conserve energy. When a predator approaches, a sleeping spider will spring into action. It may even play dead to scare off predators, as some spiders do.
Depending on the type of spider, they can spend hours in this state without being disturbed. If there is food nearby, they can resume activity immediately. If not, they might rest for a while. The amount of time they sleep depends on the species, but spiders can generally expect 8 to 12 hours a day.
Some spiders are diurnal (meaning they’re active at night and at other times) while others are nocturnal. Most species are nocturnal, and they have a daily cycle of activity that is tied to their biological clock.
Some spiders, such as jumping spiders, are so unique in their ocular anatomy that they are able to shift their retinas, as opposed to human beings, which can only rotate their eyes. This ability is necessary for a spider to have a dream.
While many animals are able to dream, scientists have yet to fully understand how the process works. A new study of jumping spiders has given researchers a better understanding of this phenomenon. The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, USA.
