2007-07-17 05:56:27 · 7 answers · asked by I dont know 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
Sleep is not related to size. It is the metabolic rate which is inversely proportional to the size. Crocodiles, python are some of the animals that remain sluggish. Winter sleep depends upon whether it can cope with the environment.Bears undergo winter sleep and are not small. Whereas rats are not good sleepers.
2007-07-21 01:17:44 · answer #1 · answered by Ishan26 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OK simplistic answer.
The larger you are the lower your metabolism. The smaller you are the higher your metabolism.
When a mouse is not looking for food, it's sleeping. That is because it cannot afford to waste energy in unnesessary activities. It also will usually have a pretty large area to forage for food. A mouse doesn't need much ffod and so doesn't need to move around to find food.
When an elephant is not eating, it's trying to get to the next food source. Elephants eat LARGE amounts of food a day and because of that, if they stayed in one place they would quickly exhaust the food suply.
There are advantages to both kinds of lifestyles.
2007-07-17 06:37:19 · answer #2 · answered by taliswoman 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
depends on the animals metabolic rate. sloths are the slowest animal and anteaters sleep for most of the day too..this is because the ants or leaves they eat are not very nutriious and give them little energy to do anything. Many smaller animals are noctornal because its easier to hunt at nght and alot cooler. So your theory is not correct.
The slower the metabolic rate the lazier the animal.
2007-07-18 01:53:10 · answer #3 · answered by jodie c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In general smaller animals have a higher metabolism AND they have less body mass to store energy. To put it simply, they get tired faster.
2007-07-17 06:20:08 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It seems to be so.We had several southern flying squirrel in a very large cage and when the weather was inclemant they all moved into the same nest box and stayed eighteen days without coming out. They were all healthy and in good shape when the weather improved. This causes me to agree with you.
2007-07-17 06:31:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
that's true with my cats! Oli sleeps more and he's the smallest and lucy sleeps less(she's the biggest) Trinny just sleeps when it's quiet- she's a bit nervous!
2007-07-17 06:05:29 · answer #6 · answered by Sabrina 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it depends on their climate. during the winter when they hybernate, they tend to sleep more.
2007-07-17 05:59:52 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋