10 Animals That Don’t Need Much Sleep

Here are 10 animals that don’t need much sleep.

Between deadlines, responsibilities, and pesky alarm clocks, do you ever wish you had the superpower of not requiring sleep?
Here are 10 animals that come pretty close to possessing such a gift.
Number 10. Bullfrogs. They are one of the few creatures on Earth that quite possibly never sleeps. It’s been observed that from time to time they do go into a period of rest and relaxation, but during it they respond to extreme stimuli, like a shock, in the same way they do when they’re wide awake.
Number 9. Dolphins. The aquatic mammals have an ability to sort of take a snooze, yet stay in motion. The phenomenon is called unihemispheric, or one-sided, sleep and during such times of rest only part of the brain goes into slumber mode.
Number 8. Giraffes. They’re pretty and peaceful animals, but they’re also on the most wanted lists of a couple of very fierce predators – lions and crocodiles. As a means of self-defense through vigilance, giraffes only sleep for a few winks at a time and seldom get more than 20 minutes of z’s per day.
Number 7. Alpine Swifts. Researchers outfitted a few of these birds with sensors and learned that they are capable of staying in flight for a bit over 6 months. That means no coming down for food, water, or to rest. It’s guessed they either doze off seasonally or when flight conditions permit.
Number 6. Sharks. Despite the many rumors circulating that sharks never sleep, whether they do or not is debatable. Though they don’t enter a state that’s similar to the one most animals experience, they do partake in some slow, quite time, often near the ocean floor. They just look super-alert while they’re doing it because they don’t have eyelids to close.
Number 5. Earthworms. Among their few known periods of rest is a phase called diapause, in which they curl up and enclose themselves in mucus membranes. The worms do it to stay moist during times of drought, emerging only when the ground’s hydration level rebounds.
Number 4. Elephant Seals. When in water with no land in sight, they grab short naps by sinking away from the sea’s surface and out of their enemies’ reaches. They begin by grabbing some air and flopping onto their backs. From there they spiral towards the bottom until it’s time to start swimming again.
Number 3. Flamingos. They sleep with one eye open. Seriously. They can put one brain hemisphere to rest at a time, leaving the other fully functioning, eyeball and all. They don’t always do it. Typically they work in shifts, allowing each in the group to get in some quality – and total – shuteye time.
Number 2. Horses. Though sleeping while standing up doesn’t sound very restful, horses are able to do it because they have what’s called a ‘stay apparatus.’ It allows tendons and ligaments to hold the leg upright while the muscles get some rest and relaxation. Horses take advantage of the ability when they’re awake as well to minimize fatigue.
Number 1. Newborn Killer Whales. Sleep deprivation would be detrimental to the health of a human child, but these whale babies have no problem staying awake for a month on end. In their case, it actually makes the brains stronger and the extra movement compensates for their low supply of blubber, a substance serves as insulation from the cold ocean waters.
Which animal do you think has the most impressive ability to get by on very little sleep?