Apparently, Snails sleep!

[tiakachina]

Very interesting.... I'd like to see these studies reproduced using various other snail species....

http://www.physorg.com/news/2011-02-evidence-snails.html

[Steph]

It is interesting on an intellectual level - and interesting (to me at least) on a meta level that researchers are investigating whether or not snails sleep.

But...

I'm sure any aquarium snail enthusiast could tell you that their snails sleep!

Certainly I have no doubts that my apple snails sleep. I even recognize their 'waking up' behavior, as it is consistant from one day to the next (or one nap to the next).

[tiakachina]

I have only cared for snails for a few months, but I am starting to identify wake/sleep cycles too.

I did think it was hilarious that they rest for a few hours and then become little grazing/mating machines for 30 hours straight... sounds about right!

I only want more studies because many people isolate instances like these and say "well that doesn't necessarily mean other snail species sleep". I am a majoring biology and I come across that 'burden of proof' mentality so often, especially in regard to animals.

It kind of reminds me of the big hullabaloo a couple years back about the chimpanzee who was collecting stones to throw at zoo-goers. It was supposedly so profound to science that an ape would premeditate anything, but the idea that it was *such* a surprise to people seemed almost ridiculous to me.