HONG KONG : Researchers discover saltwater crocodiles sleep with one eye open to keep a watch for prey and potential threats
Scientists have discovered that crocodiles can sleep with one eye open, in a ploy that allows them to doze while watching for prey.
A study by researchers in Australia and Germany found the predators are able to practice “unilateral eye closure” in a manner similar to other creatures such as dolphins, seals and walruses.
The behaviour involves keeping one half of the brain conscious – and the eye connected to that half of the brain open – which allows the crocodile to monitor surrounding events and keep a watch for potential threats or prey.
The finding was made after the scientists examined juvenile saltwater crocodiles in an aquarium lined with infrared cameras.
They discovered the creatures were more likely to keep an eye open when a human was present – and that the open eye was trained on the human.
Dr John Lesku, from La Trobe University, said the research indicated that human sleep, which involves a total shutdown of the brain, may be relatively “novel”.
“The value of the research is that we think of our own sleep as ‘normal’ – a behavioural shutdown that is a whole-brain affair,” he said.
“And yet, some birds and aquatic mammals sleep unihemispherically with one eye open. If ultimately crocodilians and other reptiles that have been observed with only one eye closed are likewise sleeping unihemispherically then our whole-brain sleep becomes the evolutionary oddity.”
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