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By: Hollie Kalinski Hamilton Avenue School Grade 5
6. Do whales sleep?`
Answer: Do whales sleep? No Scientists are sure just yet. Some say they
don't stop swimming during migration, but many scientists now think they
may sleep on "autopilot." They catch up to sleep in the lagoons where they
are observed snoring! Others say whales take short naps of 10-20 minutes.
Gray whales may sleep with their blowholes just exposed on the surface of
the water. Two basic methods of sleeping are they either reat quietly in
the water, verticly, or horizontally, or sleep while swimming slowly next
to another animal. Companionable animals may pair for sleeping while
swimming. Although still a matter of discussion. most reasearchers feel
that in order to breathe, a dolphin or whale must be conscious and alert
to recongize that its blowhole is at the surface. Whales must keep part of
the brain alert to trigger each breath. Obviously sleeping safely at sea
can pose problems, but the marine mamal system had addressed them.
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