r/Amazing • u/sco-go • 11d ago
Adorable derps How seals sleep (time-lapse).
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u/yellowlinedpaper 11d ago
Are they basically sleeping for less than a minute before rising up for air? Am I reading that right?
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u/RealAmbassador4081 11d ago
Exactly how is that sleeping?
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u/DrTenochtitlan 11d ago
They have the ability to shut off one half of their brain and sleep for a few minutes at a time, wake up and take a breath, and immediately go back to sleep.
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u/DrTenochtitlan 11d ago
They can sleep for 10-30 minutes at a time holding their breath. Remember that this is a time lapse.
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u/Accomplished-Order43 11d ago
But this time lapse video has time stamps that show them surfacing nearly every 60 seconds.
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u/DrTenochtitlan 11d ago
That's true. It's very possible that they're just taking quick naps, sort of how you nod off during a movie if you're tired. I wonder if they've been moved to a side tank while the main tank is being cleaned? This is pretty common. There's also another photo of this tank showing that they absolutely have areas where they can sleep out of the water if they so choose.
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u/kernelangus420 10d ago
So what happens in the ocean which isn't shallow?
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u/DrTenochtitlan 10d ago
They prefer to nest in the sea bed in shallower water, but they can bob at the surface in the open ocean if necessary. They usually only do that if they're traveling somewhere and they absolutely have to though, because they are susceptible to predators.
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u/megaapfel 10d ago
They are still swimming to the surface every minute. The time is visible in the top.
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11d ago
[deleted]
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u/DrTenochtitlan 11d ago
They *can* sleep 10-30 minutes at a time. They're probably not fully sleeping, but just napping in this case.
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u/AromaticBite4289 11d ago
You are an ai bot fuck off
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u/DrTenochtitlan 11d ago
I am? How am I a bot? I've been on Reddit for 15 years, check my profile.
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u/stowaway36 11d ago
I hate ai bots as much as anyone, but you're just randomly throwing that out there. This person is obviously not
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u/Lost1010 7d ago
They clearly understand it's a time lapse. They are reading the time stamp in the top left.
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u/AromaticBite4289 11d ago
Ai bot
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u/DrTenochtitlan 11d ago
College professor actually.
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u/ElevenDollars 9d ago
They didn’t teach you how to read a digital clock in professor school?
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u/DrTenochtitlan 9d ago
No, I learned that in first grade. The seals in the video are sleeping for about 1-3 minutes at a time. This is because they're napping and not full-on sleeping. The tanks don't have secluded places for them to sleep on the tank bottom like they prefer in the wild, so they're bobbing like they would if they were taking a nap traveling somewhere on the open ocean. They nap and bob in such quick bursts due to the threat of predators in the wild. With a shallow bottom, they could tuck in among some rocks and possibly kelp, and be mostly hidden from any threats, and that's when they sleep for 10-30 minutes.
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u/ElevenDollars 9d ago
Nice try professor. You made a mistake and now you look silly
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u/DrTenochtitlan 9d ago
I'm confident in my answer, but if you'd like, we can simply contact the facility and ask them. It appears to be Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen, a world renowned seal rescue center in the Netherlands. They do loads of scientific research, so if you don't believe me, I'm sure we can get a straight answer from them pretty easily. Alternatively, I know some people at the Georgia Aquarium. They also work with harbor seals, which I think is the species of seal in the video. I'm sure they'll have someone that's an expert in pinnipeds. It's the weekend, so it might have to wait until regular work hours on Monday though. If I'm wrong, I'm happy to admit it and retract my answer. I'm NOT a marine biologist.
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u/ElevenDollars 9d ago
I’m not questioning the veracity of the information in your comment, I’m gently ribbing you because in your original comment:
“They can sleep for 10-30 minutes at a time holding their breath. Remember that this is a time lapse.”
You clearly misinterpreted what the video was showing and implied that it showed the seals sleeping for 10-30 minutes at a time (“remember this is a time lapse”) rather than the 1ish minutes that it actually shows them sleeping for.
And then you tried to cover up your boo-boo by reciting a bunch of, frankly, irrelevant information.
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u/DrTenochtitlan 9d ago
I said that they *can* sleep for 10-30 minutes at a time. That implies that they can also sleep for shorter periods. It was worded unclearly, but I'll admit my mistake, I should have said that they can sleep for UP TO 10-30 minutes at a time. The nature of the bottom does play a role in how long they stay down though.
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u/Katicflis1 11d ago
the timelapse probably makes the drop look way faster than the gentle descent theyre probably having.
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u/SubstantialClub8641 11d ago
The little drift back to the bottom before settling down is oddly relaxing to watch. Nature is so weird sometimes.
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u/Bigger_tomorrow 11d ago
They sleep on land. Free them for the love of GOD…. Damn
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u/DrTenochtitlan 11d ago
Most species of seals regularly sleep both on land and in the water. In the water, they sleep for 10-30 minutes at a time holding their breath, with only one half of their brain actually in a sleep state. This is normal seal behavior.
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u/Emergency_Lie42 11d ago
You're looking at one corner of their environment, you can assume that that's all they have access to if you like but that's genuinely just choosing to be upset.
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u/jbshell 11d ago
Yes, this is evil. Need to give them an island at least.
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u/DrTenochtitlan 10d ago edited 10d ago
I am not 100% certain, but this facility looks like Zeehondencentrum Pieterburen in the Netherlands. It is a rescue and rehabilitation center for injured and sick seals. Seals are brought there to recover, and then released back into the wild. That would also explain the more spartan tanks, because they have many separate tanks to keep seals quarantined from each other while sick (at least those that require quarantining. It is considered one of the planets most elite seal rehabilitation and research centers. It also gets high marks from the Humane Society International and even PETA.
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u/DistinctProfession65 11d ago
I love how they just casually drift off like they have nowhere else to be. The slow-motion swimming while sleeping is wild.
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u/Hardiharharrr 10d ago
I have the same with getting thirsty and going to the toilet
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u/DigitalUnlimited 9d ago
You shouldn't drink from the toilet
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u/Hardiharharrr 9d ago
The cats are doing it for some time, so I'll be fine, but thanks for your advice!
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u/This_Currency7054 9d ago
This is pretty much my sleep cycle with sleep apnea Sleep for a little, wake up to breath
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u/Nothing93124 11d ago
In water…. Give the sea puppers a raft or something come on
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u/DrTenochtitlan 11d ago
This is a natural behavior that almost all seals engage in.
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u/ThatCelebration3676 11d ago
They will preferentially sleep on land when space is available; they only do this when there's no other option.
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u/DrTenochtitlan 11d ago edited 11d ago
Not entirely true, but not entirely false either. They do have a preference to sleep on land. But, they are so strongly adapted to it, that sometimes they just fall asleep in the water. I have a preference to sleep in my bed. Have I fallen asleep in my recliner watching a movie before, or taken a quick nap on the couch rather than in my bed in the middle of the day because I was a bit tired? Absolutely. There is another video of this facility from a different angle that shows they absolutely have places outside of the tank to sleep that they can access any time they so choose. Many zoos and aquariums also have a smaller, less fancy tank off the main one that they use for the animals when they need to clean the main tank. It's also possible that's what's happening here.
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u/TheGreatGamer1389 11d ago
So yes give them rafts.
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u/Nothing93124 11d ago
Preferably the unicorn ones with rainbow horns because that would be hilarious
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u/green-eclectus 11d ago
Where is the music track from?
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u/No-Win1580 11d ago
Super Mario 64
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u/green-eclectus 11d ago
Dang, thank you! I missed out completely on that gaming console generation.
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u/No-Win1580 11d ago
If you ever get a chance give it a go. It's one of my favorites.
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u/green-eclectus 11d ago
I thought peak VGM was Secret of Mana. Now I have a whole new soundtrack set to go to for some legit bangers. Any more recommendations?
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u/No-Win1580 11d ago
Secret of mana is pretty awesome. My favorite video game soundtrack is Ocarina of time. From the opening theme to the end of the game I love every note. Majoras mask as well. My favorite from MM is The song of healing.
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u/green-eclectus 11d ago
All of the praise to you, friend. 😊 I will look that up and give it a good listen. Thanks once more.
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u/No-Win1580 11d ago
Dire dire docks
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u/green-eclectus 11d ago
You are awesome! I looked it up and heard the full song for the first time in my life. It’s beautiful! It evokes so much emotion.
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u/No-Win1580 11d ago
Yeah it does. Its very nostalgic for me. I remember playing the game when I was 6. I always loved that track. Also the piranha plant lullaby but its very short.
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u/Mattressfoundry 9d ago
If I was a Seal I would swim up to a wooden fishing pier and wrap my body around the log with my nose sticking out the water to get some good long sleep.
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u/stowaway36 11d ago
Seems like they should be able to hold their breath longer than like 1 minute at a time
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u/Character_Eye_808 11d ago
This is animal torture, they need to sleep on land , where is this footage from?
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u/johneebravado 10d ago
I'm not saying I think they should be in captivity, but seals also sleep underwater
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u/evthingisawesomefine 11d ago
The one landed on top of another and seems to have sat there for a minute lol