Dolphins Can Stay Awake and Alert for 15 Days
- 12 years ago
A new study reveals that dolphins are able to stay awake and alert for at least 15 days at a time.
Dolphins can rest half of their brain at a time, which gives them the ability to stay awake continuously.
Scientists from the National Marine Mammal Foundation tested echolocation abilities in a male and female dolphin over several days and they both demonstrated remarkable accuracy in finding their targets.
Tests with the female dolphin averaged correctly between 97 to 99 percent of the time and the male dolphin’s performance had a success rate between 75 and 86 percent. Even after the experiment continued over several days, the dolphins were able to keep the experiment going and successfully hit their target.
The female was tested for 15 days straight without her performance being affected at all. Dolphins spend about eight hours a day with half of their brain asleep, and the other side ‘still active’.
Many of them rest near the surface of the ocean. This ability to remain alert at all times helps them survive underwater.
Dolphins are mammals, so they breathe oxygen through their blowholes.
In order to come up for air, they have to be awake to breath, unlike humans who are involuntary breathers.
Dolphins can rest half of their brain at a time, which gives them the ability to stay awake continuously.
Scientists from the National Marine Mammal Foundation tested echolocation abilities in a male and female dolphin over several days and they both demonstrated remarkable accuracy in finding their targets.
Tests with the female dolphin averaged correctly between 97 to 99 percent of the time and the male dolphin’s performance had a success rate between 75 and 86 percent. Even after the experiment continued over several days, the dolphins were able to keep the experiment going and successfully hit their target.
The female was tested for 15 days straight without her performance being affected at all. Dolphins spend about eight hours a day with half of their brain asleep, and the other side ‘still active’.
Many of them rest near the surface of the ocean. This ability to remain alert at all times helps them survive underwater.
Dolphins are mammals, so they breathe oxygen through their blowholes.
In order to come up for air, they have to be awake to breath, unlike humans who are involuntary breathers.