Hayes, F. E. 1993. Sleep-like behavior in young, captive Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans).
Bulletin of the Maryland Herpetological Society 29:39-46.
Abstract.--Sleep-like behavior was studied in young, captive Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans), and compared with an earlier field study on Gal�pagos Tortoises (Geochelone elephantopus vandenburghi). The turtles were nearly always "awake" during the day and "asleep" during the night; when "asleep" they were usually completely submerged. When basking on land during the day, T. scripta usually remained vigilant whereas G. elephantopus usually exhibited sleep-like behavior; differences in the antipredator strategies of these species may explain the differences in vigilance during basking. Both species usually basked with the head and limbs extended, and slept at night with head and limbs retracted; these postures presumably serve a common thermoregulatory function. |
