In 2008, a group of scientists from Scotland and Japan, exploring the oceans, came across a group of sperm whales, sleeping peacefully in an upright position near the water surface. Huge mammals were so deeply immersed in a state of sleep that they did not even respond to the vibrations emanating from the research vessel.
Watching the toothed whales (the second name of sperm whales) aboard, the researchers found that the sperm whale is not able to sleep like a person. Rather, he is dozing, periodically allowing himself to plunge into a ten to fifteen-minute deep sleep.
How do sperm whales sleep?
According to scientists, sperm whales sleep, opening one eye and constantly controlling breathing. To provide this possibility, some part of his brain must be constantly awake.
If a person is immersed in a state of deep sleep, he will wake up in a few hours. Since a sleeping person breathes involuntarily, he does not need to control the processes as a result of which his body is supplied with oxygen. Toothed whale, when sleeping, is not able to breathe automatically. He must ensure that a new breath follows his every breath.
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What do scientists say?
Biologists who studied the behavior of whales and dolphins living in captivity, noticed that these underwater animals are really able to “turn off” half of the brain for a while. Perhaps such a partial wakefulness is necessary in order to emerge as needed for the next portion of air and in time to notice the approaching enemies.
Researchers were also able to find out that nature has endowed representatives of various species of cetaceans with the ability to hold their breath for a maximum of one hour. Each species has its own style of falling asleep and waking up.
A humpback whale, for example, can remain motionless without showing signs of activity for about half an hour. Exceeding this limit leads to a significant decrease in the temperature of his huge body. Dolphin needs only a couple of hours a day to get enough sleep.
