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Sleep in the lesser mouse-deer (Tragulus kanchil).
Oleg I Lyamin1,2,3, Jerome M Siegel3, Evgeny A Nazarenko1,2
1A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
Sleep
|August 9, 2021
Summary
Lesser mouse-deer exhibit polyphasic sleep patterns, with non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep dominating and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep occurring in shorter bursts. This sleep behavior is likely an adaptation for survival in their tropical forest habitat.
Area of Science:
- Zoology
- Sleep Science
- Behavioral Ecology
Background:
- Mouse-deer (chevrotains) are the smallest ungulates and ruminants, possessing plesiomorphic traits for the Artiodactyla order.
- Understanding sleep patterns in small, prey animals is crucial for behavioral ecology and conservation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the sleep architecture of the lesser mouse-deer (Tragulus kanchil), the smallest species in its family.
- To characterize the duration, timing, and postural aspects of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in this species.
Main Methods:
- Telemetry recording of electroencephalogram, electromyogram, electrooculogram, and body acceleration in four adult female mouse-deer.
- Data collection occurred in Bu Gia Map National Park, Vietnam, over a 24-hour period.
Main Results:
- Mouse-deer spent 49.7% of 24 hours in NREM sleep and 1.7% in REM sleep.
- REM sleep episodes were short (average 2.0 min), with 64.7% occurring with the head resting on the ground.
- Sleep was polyphasic with crepuscular activity peaks; NREM sleep was highest in the morning, REM sleep occurred throughout daylight and early night.
Conclusions:
- The observed sleep patterns, including polyphasic sleep and specific timing of NREM and REM sleep, are likely adaptations for predator avoidance and thermoregulation in a tropical environment.
- The study provides novel insights into the sleep behavior of a rarely studied ungulate species.
