OCTOPUS

(Octopoda)

Sleep is a ubiquitous phenomenon, found in animals of many different phyla. While in

the past sleep has been defined through studies on mammals and birds, it has recently
appeared that invertebrates might show this behavioural state. The present behavioral
study on sleep in Octopus vulgaris demonstrates its presence in a cognitively advanced
invertebrate. We studied resting states in sixteen adult Octopus vulgaris to determine
the presence of behavioural sleep. Animals were filmed day and night in isolation and
before and after they were restdeprived mechanically.

Activity cycles were under circadian control and quiescent animals showed an elevated
arousal threshold, which was determined by exposing them to growing levels of
vibratory stimulation, and state reversibility with intense stimulation. Behavioral
observationsalso demonstrated that octopuses chose a preferred resting place, actively
built a den site and assumed a typical posture. The quiescence of the subjects often
coincided with random movements of the suckers on the arms. Octopuses also showed
a typical 'half-and-half' skin pattern during the periods of rest, which was not camouflage
matched to the environment. Rest deprivation during nighttime led to a rest rebound,
while daytime rest deprivation reduced quiescent time.

Circadian rhythm' is the pattern of sleeping and being awake during 24 hrs of day and night.
Scientists are finding that octopuses don't seem to show clear behavior of sleeping at night or
sleeping in the day. All these findings lead us to the conclusion that, although brain
physiological changes might not be parallel, Octopus vulgaris shows typical behavioral
sleep.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229150667_Behavioral_sleep_in_Octopus_vul
garis