News Animals

Octopus sleep includes a frenzied, colorful, ‘active’ stage

Cephalopod snoozing is mostly quiet with brief bursts of REM-like activity

a sleeping octopus

During a brief bout of active sleep, this octopus in the lab blushes deep red.

Sylvia Medeiros

By Laura Sanders

- More than 2 years ago

Octopuses cycle through two stages of slumber, a new study reports.

First comes quiet sleep, and then a shift to a twitchy, active sleep in which vibrant colors flash across the animals’ skin.