Penguins have a unique way of life quite different from that of humans. One aspect that distinguishes penguins from us is their sleeping pattern.
Because their environment is not the same as ours and they have different challenges, their sleeping style reflects that.
Penguins don’t go into a deep slumber as many other animals do. Instead, they sleep for multiple short periods throughout the day and evening.
The periods can be just 10 minutes each. Penguins can sleep in different positions too. There’s no one-size-fits-all with these birds.
Here’s more to learn on this subject.
How Do Penguins Sleep?
There are different ways penguins sleep, and sometimes that is influenced by the species in question.
So, how do penguins sleep? Do penguins sleep lying down or standing up?
The accurate answer is both and more. Not all penguins sleep standing up as people believe, only a few—like the emperor penguin—sleep this way. Here are some sleeping positions of penguins:
Sleeping in groups
As a protective measure, penguins can sleep huddled together in a group. This helps especially for those living in cold regions.
When they sleep together, they can share body heat and keep themselves warm against the cold. Staying apart may leave them vulnerable to the weather.
Sleeping together also guards them against predators. Penguins are prey to many animals living around them, and to survive they often stick together.
Small predators that may easily hunt one penguin would think twice before attacking a group. As for bigger predators, being in a group gives the penguins a chance to run away.
Sleeping with the beak tucked under flippers
This is another strategy these birds use to keep themselves warm. Emperor penguins are well known for this.
By sleeping this way, they maintain their body heat. The beaks are also protected from getting chilly.
Sleeping at sea
This is impossible for a human, but a regular sleeping style for these birds. Penguins can sleep underwater, often while at sea.
This happens as they’re floating, especially on a journey. There are no chances of penguins drowning.
Do penguins sleep standing up?
This is the sleeping position we’re more accustomed to, and while it isn’t universal to all penguins, it occurs.
This position doesn’t seem comfortable to us, but the penguin’s body is so designed that they can sleep while standing.
The skeletal structure of a penguin is different from that of a human in that while we tend to stand straight, the penguin remains on a permanent crouch (or so it seems).
The position of the knee and hip joint contribute to this posture. It enables them to sleep upright and be comfortable.
Standing also protects them against the cold by helping them reduce contact with the snowy ground.
Only their legs remain on the ground, and because many penguins stand on their heels, their toes aren’t dipped into the snow.
Sleeping in burrows
The next sleeping method is that of digging burrows. Some penguins would make a safe space in the form of a burrow for them to sleep in. This protects them from cold as well.
Do penguins lay down when they sleep
Lying down to sleep is the most common sleeping method amongst animals. Penguins can also sleep lying down, and this is especially for species that live in a warmer climate.
Where Do Penguins Sleep?
The answer to this might seem obvious (on ice, of course!).
However, just as there are different sleeping positions a penguin can adopt, there are also different places besides standing on ice. Not all penguins live in Antarctica, anyways.
One position mentioned above is that of penguins floating above the water, which leads us to the first place a penguin can sleep.
They sleep at sea, and they can hold their breaths for minutes. The emperor penguin is known to stay underwater for more than 20 minutes at a stretch.
It has the longest record, but other penguin species can also stay underwater long enough to sleep.
Besides being able to hold their breath for long, penguins also have good eyesight that helps them navigate the underwaters. They can equally filter the seawater and make it saltwater for drinking when needed.
We also pointed out that these birds sleep in burrows, and that’s also a place as much as a sleeping position.
These penguins prefer digging holes that they can be comfortable in before getting some sleep.
When Do Penguins Sleep?
Penguins don’t have a long, specific sleeping period the way humans and many other animals do. This sets them apart.
Because of their environment (both cold and otherwise) and predators, penguins adapted to sleeping during the day and evening.
They don’t sleep for a long stretch, but for different short periods of the day.
The average sleeping time for a penguin is 10 minutes per period.
It might seem too short, but as we’ll soon see, the accumulated period of a day is long enough for them to get full rest.
How Long Do Penguins Sleep?
The occasional naps these birds take last only a few minutes at a time, but when combined the penguins get refreshed.
The different sleeping styles found amongst both humans and animals can be classified into monophasic, biphasic, and polyphasic.
- Monophasic sleeping style: Mostly humans and many mammals tend to adopt this method (though as humans, we can attempt all three). This is when the individual sleeps at a stretch.
- Biphasic sleeping style: When the individual sleeps twice a day.
- Polyphasic sleeping style: For multiple times in a day. Penguins are polyphasic.
Overall, out of 24 hours, the emperor penguin is known to sleep for 10.4 hours a day. Each period is always lesser than 10 minutes. Other penguin species can sleep for 8 to 13 hours each day.
Related Questions
Do penguins sleep with their eyes open?
Penguins tend to sleep with an eye open, always alert even while resting. This is because they have a lot of predators living around, and their sleeping pattern has to reflect that.
Do penguins sleep on their tummies or their backs?
Penguins have different ways to sleep, and while some lie on their stomachs, others do so on their back. Then some don’t lie down at all. It depends on the species and environment.
How do baby penguins sleep?
Babies stay in the brood pouch of their parents where they often sleep for the first few weeks of their lives.
Are penguins nocturnal or diurnal?
Penguins are neither nocturnal nor diurnal, meaning they have no specific time when they are fully active. They are rather termed cathemeral, which means they can be active both night and day.
Conclusion
Penguins sleep more than half of every 24 hours, but their sleeping style adapts to the harsh and risky environment they often are in.
If you discover a penguin standing quietly on a spot, chances are it is asleep.
They would often stand this way in groups, and can also dig holes and even stay underwater at sea. What an interesting animal!
Featured Image Credit: Tom Strudley / Getty Images
