Mirror Daily

Friday, March 5, 2021
Log in
  • Home
  • National & Global News
  • Business & Economy
  • Tech & Science
  • Health
  • About Mirror Daily
    • Our Team
    • Contact Us
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Latest News
    • The Geological Features of Pluto Have Just Gotten Dark Names Inspired from the Underworld
    • The Abuse of Imodium
    • McDonald’s Salads are worse than their Burgers
    • US Family Sues Hospital Over Botched Tonsillectomy
    • Should We Go Back to The Moon?
    • Photo of Gay Military Men Kissing Goes Viral

Pages

  • About Mirror Daily
  • Contact Us
  • Fossil Reveals That Dinosaurs Suffered from Arthritis
  • Our Team
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Terms of Use
  • World Breastfeeding Week: Advantages and Disadvantages

Recent Posts

  • Canadian Teen Killed by Toxic Shock Syndrome on School Trip June 29, 2018
  • Donut Fries Coming to Dunkin’ Donuts Nationwide June 28, 2018
  • Kohl’s Hiring Workers for Holiday Season amid Labor Shortage June 28, 2018
  • This is How You’re Sabotaging Your Skin Safety June 27, 2018
  • SF Woman Calls Cops on Little Girl for Selling Water on Street June 26, 2018
  • Sarah Sanders Misused Official Twitter Account to Complain about Restaurant June 25, 2018
  • Man Arrested for Placing 10-Ft-Long Heroin Spoon Outside Drug Maker HQ June 25, 2018

It’s True: Crocodiles Are Able to Sleep With One Eye Open

October 23, 2015 By Tara Hamilton Leave a Comment

alt="Crocodiles Sleep With One Eye Open"

(Mirror Daily, United States) – No matter how unbelievable it might sound, it’s true: crocodiles are able to sleep with one eye open, so they can stay on the lookout for both predators and prey.

A new study has come to confirm what was considered to be only a tale straight from the Australian legends; no reliable scientific evidence was found to either confirm or disprove this theory – that is, until now. According to researchers from the La Trobe University, Australia, crocodiles are indeed able to keep watch during sleep.

This amazing ability – that some of us might secretly covet – is called unihemispheric sleep; in other words, the crocodile can keep one half of the brain alert while the other one sleeps, a habit that requires one eye to stay open.

Some other species are able to engage in unihemispheric sleep, such as dolphins or birds, but research on this phenomenon occurring in crocodiles has been limited. Lead researcher Michael Kelly of the La Trobe’s School of Life Sciences has expressed his excitement over the findings, which are the first reliable ones to involve crocodilians.

Kelly was joined in his endeavor by co-authors Richard Peters and John Lesku of the same institution, and Ryan Tisdale, of Max Planck Institute for Ornithology, Germany. The group found these discoveries to be key in reviewing the way we look at the evolution of sleep.

With the help of infrared cameras installed in custom-made aquariums, the researchers were able to observe the sleeping habits and general behavior of young saltwater crocodiles day and night. According to the study, the crocodiles measured somewhere between 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 inches) long.

Researchers noticed that when humans were present in the room with the aquarium, the crocodiles were very watchful, and if they wanted to sleep, they kept one eye open and focused on where they last saw the humans. The Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Germany has also studied the phenomenon, and their findings are in agreement with this new study.

Crocodiles can also sleep with both eyes closed, but studying them in lab conditions with humans present caused them to be more likely to keep one eye open. Older specimens were also thought to keep one-eye watch for the younger ones, as a protective behavior from predators.

Researchers reached a very interesting conclusion about what we consider “normal sleep.” If some birds, reptiles and aquatic mammals can sleep unihemispherically, then our whole-brain sleep should be considered an evolutionary novelty.
Image Source: Dreamatico

The following two tabs change content below.
  • Bio
  • Latest Posts

Tara Hamilton

Tara has graduated from the University of Oregon, with bachelors degree in Spanish Literature in 2010. She lived in Miami for one year and travelled extensively before settling down in El Paso.

Latest posts by Tara Hamilton (see all)

  • Aspirin Might Keep Away Cancers of the Digestive Tract - November 1, 2017
  • Halloween, the Biggest Food Poisoning Hazard for Pets - October 27, 2017
  • Botox Might Be a Possible Cure for Pediatric Migraines - October 25, 2017

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr

Filed Under: Tech & Science

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Articles

Albert Einstein in group photo

Einstein’s Travel Diaries Reveal His Lesser Known Racist Side

June 14, 2018 By John Birks

Baobab tree in Tanzania

Southern Africa’s Iconic Baobab Trees Facing Massive Die-Off

June 11, 2018 By John Birks

UFO 'Self Parking' Sign

Researcher Accuses NASA of Massive Alien Cover-Up

March 5, 2018 By John Birks

Elon Musk's flying Tesla roadster

NASA Warns Elon Musk’s Flying Tesla Roadster May Contaminate Mars

February 28, 2018 By John Birks

Windows 10 home screen

Microsoft Working on Making Windows Password-Free

February 12, 2018 By John Birks

Ice Cubes

Scientists Discover Fourth State of Water: Superionic Ice

February 10, 2018 By John Birks

Head of a northern gannet

Forever Alone Nigel the Gannet Found Dead near Fake Partner

February 3, 2018 By John Birks

Globular Star Cluster

Scientists Find Surprise Black Hole in Globular Star Cluster

January 20, 2018 By John Birks

The Amazon Echo Dot

America’s Smart Speaker Market Jumps to 39 Million Users

January 15, 2018 By John Birks

Pink plasma ball

CES 2018: Intel Presents Out-of-This-World Quantum Computer

January 10, 2018 By John Birks

Teen using her iPad

Major Apple Investors Urge Company to Do More About iPhone Addiction

January 8, 2018 By John Birks

Russian spacecraft

Out-of-Control Chinese Space Station Hurling Toward Earth

January 5, 2018 By John Birks

wanning moon seen on the evening sky in between trees

Scientists Thrilled about Trump’s Initiative to Send Explorers Back to the Moon

December 31, 2017 By John Birks

Two iPhone 7 models on table

Apple Confirms Slower-iPhone Conspiracy Theory

December 22, 2017 By John Birks

Related Articles

  • Albert Einstein in group photo

    Einstein’s Travel Diaries Reveal His Lesser Known Racist Side

    Jun 14, 2018
  • Baobab tree in Tanzania

    Southern Africa’s Iconic Baobab Trees Facing Massive Die-Off

    Jun 11, 2018
  • UFO 'Self Parking' Sign

    Researcher Accuses NASA of Massive Alien Cover-Up

    Mar 5, 2018
  • Elon Musk's flying Tesla roadster

    NASA Warns Elon Musk’s Flying Tesla Roadster May Contaminate Mars

    Feb 28, 2018
  • Windows 10 home screen

    Microsoft Working on Making Windows Password-Free

    Feb 12, 2018
  • Ice Cubes

    Scientists Discover Fourth State of Water: Superionic Ice

    Feb 10, 2018
  • Head of a northern gannet

    Forever Alone Nigel the Gannet Found Dead near Fake Partner

    Feb 3, 2018
  • Globular Star Cluster

    Scientists Find Surprise Black Hole in Globular Star Cluster

    Jan 20, 2018
  • The Amazon Echo Dot

    America’s Smart Speaker Market Jumps to 39 Million Users

    Jan 15, 2018
  • Pink plasma ball

    CES 2018: Intel Presents Out-of-This-World Quantum Computer

    Jan 10, 2018

Categories

  • Business & Economy
  • Capital & Retail Sector
  • Health
  • IT & Diversified Sector
  • National & Global News
  • Tech & Science

Copyright © 2021 MirrorDaily.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Contact

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more.