Dolphins are very alert creatures. They only sleep with one half of their brain, which makes them stay fully alert for long periods of time. According to a research done by PLOS ONE, this trait makes dolphins stay alert for 15 days straight!
Brian Branstetter from the National Marine Mammal Foundation and colleagues discovered that all dolphins can use their echolocation with pin point accuracy consistently for 15 days, locating different targets and monitoring their location. Branstetter's researchers studied 2 dolphins; one male and one female. Both were capable of this completing this task for 5 straight days. The female in particular, accomplished additional tasks for a 15 day period. But seeing how far they could go was not studied unfortunately.
The trait of sleeping with half of the brain (also called unihemispheric sleep) at a time is said to have evolved in dolphins so that they can surface for air even though they're half asleep. This new research suggests that staying vigilant may also have played a key role in the evolution of the unique sleeping behavior dolphins possess. "These majestic beasts are true unwavering sentinels of the sea. The demands of ocean life on air breathing dolphins have led to incredible capabilities, one of which is the ability to continuously, perhaps indefinitely, maintain vigilant behavior through echolocation"" says Branstetter." (Science Daily.com)
Website: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121017181244.htm
Picture: http://www.follybeach.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Dolphin-face-1.jpg
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