Where Does Spiders Sleep?
WouterYou might have heard that spiders sleep in a state called REM. This is a very interesting phenomenon, but does it mean that they are sleeping?
There is not a lot of scientific evidence for this, but many people still believe that they are sleeping. For one, many spiders don’t sleep at night. They sleep during the day.
However, some home-dwelling spiders, such as house spiders, hunt for prey rather than webs. These spiders also prefer undisturbed places. Some species of house spiders like to hide and wait for their prey.
In order to determine whether they are sleeping, researchers need to test the spiders’ resting patterns. Some spiders have poor vision, but there are some that can sense vibrations.
The study showed that the baby jumping spiders twitched their legs while in a REM sleep state. They were also seen moving their retinas to change their gaze. Those who were not twitching during this phase were dead.
However, some spiders do not have eyelids and cannot close their eyes. Some spiders may tuck their legs under their bodies to conserve energy during sleep.
Some scientists, like Daniela Roessler, a behavioral ecologist in Germany, have started studying these animals. She said that it was too early to know if they dream. She has been filming some spiders to determine if they are sleeping.
However, most of these animals don’t sleep in a REM-like way. It appears they are in a low metabolic state, which allows them to rest. They also may be tucking their legs in when they get cold.
