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Have you ever seen a giraffe sleeping? Probably not. You might have wondered how an animal with such a long neck can sleep comfortably. You have probably asked yourself, "Do giraffes sleep standing up or lying down?" As you might have guessed, a giraffe's sleeping habits are very different from other animals.

In this AnimalWised article we answer the question how do giraffes sleep? and explain how much time giraffes spend resting and why. We also share some other interesting facts about this curious and well-loved animal. Keep reading to find out more about the giraffe's sleeping habits.

Giraffe characteristics

The giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis) is a quadruped mammal known for height, with its long legs and characteristically long neck. In fact, it is the tallest living animal in the world. Here are some of the most important facts about giraffes:

Habitat: Giraffes are native to the African continent, where they inhabit areas with abundant grass, or savannas and hot plains like the Serengeti. They are herbivorous animals, and feed on leaves that they strip from the tops of trees. If you are interested, here is some more information about the giraffe's habitat and distribution.

Height and weight: Male giraffes are taller and heavier than females: they can be up to 5.8 meters (19 feet) tall and weigh around 1,900 kilos (~2600 lbs). Female giraffes are usually 4-5 meters (14-16 feet) tall and weigh around 823 kilos (~1800 lbs).

Coat: Giraffe's have patterned coats, with a lighter background covered in dark brown or tan patches. The color of a giraffe's coat varies with age and depending on their health.

Tongue: A giraffe's tongue is long and black, measuring up to 50 cm (21 inches). This helps the giraffe access leaves with ease, and even clean its ears.

Reproduction: The gestation period in a giraffe is 15 months. After this time, the female giraffe gives birth to a single calf weighing 60 kilos (132 lbs). Baby giraffes have the ability to run just a few hours after birth.

Behavior: Giraffes are sociable animals, and they usually travel in groups of varying size to protect themselves from predators.

Predators: The giraffe's main predators are lions, leopards, hyenas and crocodiles. However, giraffes have a powerful kick, so predators tend to be cautious when attacking them. Humans also present a threat to their survival, as giraffes are often victims of poaching for their skin, meat and tail.

Unfortunately, poaching and habitat loss have led to giraffe numbers dropping by 40% in the last three decades and they are categorized as a vulnerable species in the IUCN Red List.

Types of giraffes

Giraffa camelopardalis is the only species of giraffe that exists. There are 8 recognized subspecies, though they are physically very similar to each other. All of the subspecies are native to the African continent.

Rothschild's giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi)

West African Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis peralta)

Masai Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis tippelskirchi)

Reticulated Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata)

Kordofan Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis antiquorum)

Angolan Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis angolensis)

Thornicroft's Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis thornicrofti)

Nubian Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis camelopardalis)

Of these, the Rothschild's and West African subspecies of giraffe are classified as endangered in the IUCN Red List[2][3].

How long do giraffes sleep?

Before talking about how giraffes sleep, we need to understand how much time they spend sleeping. Like most other animals, giraffes need to rest to recover energy and develop normally. However, not all animals share the same sleeping habits. Each species has evolved to sleep in the most productive and least risky way possible.

Giraffes are among the animals that sleep the least, not only because they spend very little time sleeping but also because of their inability to achieve deep sleep. In total, they rest for only about 1-2 hours a day, but not all at once. These two hours are usually spread out throughout the day in the form of 2 to 10 minute naps. Adult giraffes in the wild sleep as little as half an hour a day. Baby giraffes need to sleep more than adults, and usually spend longer continuous stretches of time sleeping.

Why do giraffes sleep so little?

In the wild, giraffes cannot sleep for long stretches of time because they live in open savannas. Sleeping makes them vulnerable to predators. Although they are fast runners, it takes them a while stand up, given their long legs and body structure. So short naps, rather than a long night's sleep, can help them avoid predators better.

Young giraffes in the wild can sleep for longer stretches, because the adults keep a look out and protect them from predators. In captivity, giraffes need to be less alert and therefore tend to sleep more - sometimes up to 4.5 hours, and usually at night.

Another theory suggests that giraffes don't sleep much because of their eating habits, and the fact that they spend a lot of their day ruminating. This involves regurgitating food and and chewing it again, which takes up a large part of their day, and for which they have to remain standing up. In fact, rumination is associated with a relaxed state. A giraffes can doze off, squeezing in short naps, while still chewing.

If you are curious about the sleeping habits of other animals check out these articles:

How do giraffes sleep?

We've discussed the characteristics of giraffes, the different subspecies that exist and their sleeping habits. Now, for the big question: how exactly do giraffes sleep? Because of their unusual body structure, giraffes have developed unique postures for sleeping and resting.

Do giraffes sleep standing up or sitting down?

Giraffes usually sleep in short naps, and adults generally sleep standing up. This way, they can react quickly in case of danger. Lying down makes it harder for them to run away or kick a predator, increasing their chances of falling prey to to an attack. When a giraffe sleep standing up, its neck usually relaxes and and its head may tilt forward. This posture is associated with light sleep in giraffes.

Giraffes can also sleep sitting down, in what is called a recumbent posture. They first sit down with their legs folded under their bodies. When sleeping, a giraffe either sits with its head tilted forward, or with its neck bent backwards and head resting on its back, hindquarters or the ground. This swan-like sleeping posture is most common among young giraffes and is associated with deeper sleep. Adult giraffes may occasionally sleep in this posture as well, though only for very short periods of time.

Sleeping standing up is not exclusive to giraffes. Other species that run similar risks of being attacked, or are also ruminants, share this habit. Donkeys, cows, sheep and horses are some examples. In this article, for example, we explain how horses sleep.

Seeber, P., Ciofolo, I., Ganswindt, A. 2012. Behavioural inventory of the giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis). BMC Research Notes, 5:650https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3599642/

Despard Estes, R. 1991. Introduction to Ruminants. The Behavior Guide to African Mammals. University of California Press.

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Have you ever seen a giraffe sleeping? Probably not. You might have wondered how an animal with such a long neck can sleep comfortably. You have probably asked yourself, "Do giraffes sleep standing up or lying down?" As you might have guessed, a giraffe's sleeping habits are very different from other animals.

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The axolotl is a kind of amphibian, specifically a salamander, that does not metamorphose naturally. Usually, amphibians have gills and live underwater when they are young, but then they lose their gills, develop lungs, and live on land as adults.

Axolotls, however, keep their gills and continue living in the water as adults. Their gills are their most recognizable trait because they look like wispy feathers.

Axolotls also develop lungs. Although their main method of breathing is through their gills, they occasionally use their lungs to breathe in air from the water's surface. Because they live in water their whole lives, they always have a tail and webbed feet for swimming.

Axolotls average 23 cm (9 in.) in length. They vary in color from pinkish to brownish green, and often appear to be smiling because of the shape of their mouth.

In the wild, axolotls are only found in one lake outside Mexico City, called Lake Xochimilco.

They will eat just about anything they can catch, including fish, worms, mollusks, and even insects on the surface of the water. They are preyed upon by perch and tilapia, both of which are invasive species, as well as birds.

In captivity, axolotls are very popular. They can be found in homes and aquariums all over the world. This is because they are hardy, easy to breed, and cute enough that many people want to own one.

Axolotls can also be found in research laboratories. They are studied because, like other salamanders, the axolotl has the extraordinary ability to regrow missing body parts. That means that if an axolotl loses a leg or a tail, it will regrow, including the bones, muscle, and skin. They can also regrow organs, something scientists hope they can apply to humans one day.

Axolotl Reproduction

Breeding events happen up to three times a year. This varies depending on whether the axolotls are in the wild or captivity. Regardless of location, the act remains the same. There is what appears to be a dance after which the female lays her eggs, between 300 and 1000! After only two weeks the eggs hatch and the babies are left on their own.

Conservation Status

Despite being abundant in captivity, axolotls are considered critically endangered by the IUCN Red List. Due to a combination of habitat loss, pollution, and invasive species, the wild population of axolotls is declining. The surviving population is very small, with less than 1000 axolotls remaining in the wild.

What You Can Do to Help Axolotls

You can help the axolotl by preventing waste from making its way into water sources and raising awareness about axolotls.

Axolotl Range

Axolotl Resources

About the Author

P.A. Smith is a middle school Language Arts teacher. He is also a contributing editor of My House Rabbit.

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Axolotl Facts for Kids | Axolotls Information | Animal Fact Guide

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Did you know the axolotl is a kind of amphibian that does not metamorphose naturally? They have the ability to regrow missing body parts.

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