Discussion Do you also find it weird that animals evolved to sleep?

[Forever Sleep]

Surely, it's such a vulnerable time for an animal. To have its eyes closed and be largely unaware of its surroundings. I guess some animals have evolved to sleep very short amounts of time or even, to sleep with one eye open- lots of birds do this apparently.

Still, it still seems odd. Also, that some animals need so much sleep. Seems like such a strange activity really. Obviously necessary though. I guess it must level out. The lack of time spent finding food and water compensated by not expending so much energy being awake. Still seems so weird for a prey animal to do though.

But then, I don't remember all that many nature documentaries where predators target animals asleep. Maybe because they try to hide when they sleep.

On that subject, do you get enough sleep? I don't. I'd love to sleep now to be honest but, I've got work to do.

 

[NearlyIrrelevantCake]

Preventing animals--including humans--from sleeping for long periods of time causes them to die. Their cognitive functions fade day by day by day. It's clear that sleep provides a critical function [even if we don't clearly understand that yet], otherwise it wouldn't have stuck around for millions and millions of years.

 

[Forever Sleep]

Preventing animals--including humans--from sleeping for long periods of time causes them to die. Their cognitive functions fade day by day by day. It's clear that sleep provides a critical function [even if we don't clearly understand that yet], otherwise it wouldn't have stuck around for millions and millions of years.

True but- I still find it strange. Think of the incredible ways animals have evolved to presumably be more efficient. Dolphins I believe evolved from creatures similar to cows that returned to the water. If evolution can produce a dolphin from a cow like creature, it seems weird we didn't evolve away sleep.

Not that I'm complaining. I generally enjoy sleep. I just find it weird. Again though- sure. It must be because the benefits outweigh the risk.

 

[sinfonia]

 

[Pluto]