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You are here: Home / Animals / How Much Sleep Do Giraffes Need and How do They Have the Shortest Sleep Requirements of Any Mammal?

How Much Sleep Do Giraffes Need and How do They Have the Shortest Sleep Requirements of Any Mammal?

April 19, 2020 by Karen Hill

The giraffe has one of the shortest sleep requirements of any mammal.

giraffe sleeping

Giraffes sleep between ten minutes and two hours in a 24-hour period, averaging about 2 hours per day.

Since an adult giraffe would make a good supper for a lion on the African plain, they’ve evolved some very interesting sleep patterns.

When they sleep deeply, it’s only for a few minutes at a time, and even then, they don’t add up to very much.

The rest of the time, giraffes may catnap lightly now and again, but their ears are still perked and listening for predators.

When a giraffe does lie down for resting, it will usually rest its neck on its rump, a log, or some other prop so that its head always stays elevated.

These giraffes are lying down on the job.

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Filed Under: Animals

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « What is the Name of the Giraffe Calf that was Born in 2001 at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington?
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