Giraffes are seriously short snoozers!

Short, quick naps

Giraffes really do sleep, but they don't always do it for very long!

Their sleep is broken into short bouts, helping these towering animals spend lots of time awake and alert.

Book spread titled Long Necks, Short Naps showing two yellow giraffes against a purple and blue graffiti wall.

Now You Know!

A giraffe can sleep standing up or lying down!

For deeper sleep, giraffes can lie down and curl their long necks around toward their bodies.

How does a giraffe sleep?

How long?
In short, broken-up periods
When?
Mostly at night
How?
Standing up or lying down

From Sleep, Nap, Snooze

Long Necks, Short Naps

Meet one of the tallest and shortest-snoozing animals featured in Sleep, Nap, Snooze: The Bed Habits of Animals.

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For parents & teachers

Is this really true? Sources & further reading

Yes, but sleep totals vary. Research shows that giraffes do sleep and that their sleep is divided into relatively short bouts. Both upright and lying-down sleep-related postures have been observed.

Sleep duration can vary with age, environment and how it is measured, which is why this page avoids giving every giraffe one exact daily sleep total.

Animal:: Giraffe
Scientific name:: Giraffa camelopardalis

Source: Tobler & Schwierin, behavioral sleep research in giraffes.

Read the research