The Most Sleepy Animals on Earth
Sleep is a fundamental daily act. Adults typically get about eight hours of rest, while babies and toddlers require more. Some species of animals, however, sleep far longer. This article explores which animals top the charts for longest naps and how their lifestyles drive these patterns.
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What animal kills the most people in the world?
The World’s Biggest Sleepers
The animal that sleeps the most each day is the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). This Australian marsupial spends roughly 22 hours asleep in a typical day. The remaining two hours are usually devoted to feeding and basic bodily needs.
The koala is a herbivorous, tree-dwelling animal. Its diet consists almost exclusively of eucalyptus leaves, a food source that is plentiful in its habitat but low in nutrients. Digesting these leaves requires significant energy, which explains the long rest periods that follow feeding times. This unique diet shapes the koala’s slow-paced lifestyle.
Koalas tend to be nocturnal in their behavior and rarely descend from their trees. Their reliance on the canopies keeps them largely off the ground during the day, and when they do come down, it is mainly to find a new tree for feeding or resting. In many cases, such movement is minimal, contributing to their reputation as some of the most tree-bound and sleep-loving creatures on the planet.
Other Notably Sleepy Animals
In second place on the list of sleepy creatures are animals that rest for about 20 hours daily. Following closely are the possum, which averages around 19 hours of sleep each day, and the armadillo, often clocking in at 18 hours. These mammals spend most of their lives resting in or near their preferred shelters, only leaving to eat or move between resting spots.
How Many Hours Does a Dog Sleep in a Day?
In the broader ranking of sleepy animals, dogs occupy a position with variable sleep hours. A dog’s daily slumber can range widely, influenced by age, activity level, breed, and environment. Some dogs sleep a large portion of the day, while others stay awake much longer depending on their routine and needs.
Other animals on the list include the lemur, which averages about 16 hours of sleep per day. Cats and pigs also spend significant portions of the day napping, sometimes up to 13 hours. Overall, dogs tend to vary more than many species in their daily rest patterns, reflecting diverse lifestyles and care practices.