Dolphins are cetacean mammals closely related to whales and porpoises. The vary in size ranging from 1-9m.
ITS NERVOUS SYSTEM:
Its nervous system plays an important role in its sleep,so first a little about its nervous system. Dolphin's nervous system is much similar to that of human, having brain and spinal cord and brain having two hemispheres just like human's brain, but having four brain lobes instead of three. another difference is that in dolphin's nervous system both brain and spinal cord are at the same level.
HOW IT SLEEPS?
Generally, dolphin sleeps with only one brain hemisphere, in slow wave sleep at a time and thus maintaining enough consciousness to breathe and to watch for other predators and threats. it completes its sleep in normally to parts in first part one hemispheres sleep and the other work and in second part the other hemisphere sleeps, in this way dolphin completes its sleep in 6-8 hours. In captivity, dolphin enters a fully asleep state in which both eyes are closed and there is no response to mild external stimuli, During this dolphin keeps its blow hole above water through tail kick reflex. The Indus river dolphin has a sleep method that is different from that of other dolphin species. Living in water with strong currents and potentially dangerous floating debris, it must swim continuously to avoid injury. As a result, this species sleeps in very short bursts which last between 4 and 60 seconds
ITS NERVOUS SYSTEM:
Its nervous system plays an important role in its sleep,so first a little about its nervous system. Dolphin's nervous system is much similar to that of human, having brain and spinal cord and brain having two hemispheres just like human's brain, but having four brain lobes instead of three. another difference is that in dolphin's nervous system both brain and spinal cord are at the same level.
HOW IT SLEEPS?
Generally, dolphin sleeps with only one brain hemisphere, in slow wave sleep at a time and thus maintaining enough consciousness to breathe and to watch for other predators and threats. it completes its sleep in normally to parts in first part one hemispheres sleep and the other work and in second part the other hemisphere sleeps, in this way dolphin completes its sleep in 6-8 hours. In captivity, dolphin enters a fully asleep state in which both eyes are closed and there is no response to mild external stimuli, During this dolphin keeps its blow hole above water through tail kick reflex. The Indus river dolphin has a sleep method that is different from that of other dolphin species. Living in water with strong currents and potentially dangerous floating debris, it must swim continuously to avoid injury. As a result, this species sleeps in very short bursts which last between 4 and 60 seconds
IMAGE SHOWING TALE KICK REFLEX, THUS KEEPING THE BLOW HOLE ABOVE WATER.
What would you like to say about my work?
ReplyDelete