Do Rabbits Sleep with their Eyes Open?

In 2018, National Geographic wrote a piece summarizing a study published in the Science Journal that argued that more animals are becoming nocturnals because of human activities. In other words, more animals are active at night and are more likely to have their eyes and ears open in order to avoid any contact with humans.

In this article, I’ll explain if rabbits close their eyes when they sleep and have given more details on rabbits’ sleep evolution to survive predators in the wild.

Below is a snapshot of the Science Journal study by UC Berkley and Boise State University scientists.

National Geographic had a better headline:

In the study, they found that ‘human activity is driving scores of mammals to shift their activity from the day into the dark hours of the night.’ As shown in the chart below, rabbits were found to have shifted 5% of activity to daylight hours.

The study did not, however, indicate if rabbits sleep with their eyes open and this article will cover that topic with more details on the evolution of rabbit sleep habits with their shift to “separate themselves in time rather than in space,” and opting to be active during the night when humans are not active.

Rabbits were outliers in the study in that they increased their activity during the day, while most other animals increased their activity during the night as they try to avoid human interaction.

Before discussing the sleep habits of rabbits, let’s start with the most basic question;

What is a rabbit?

A rabbit is a mammal that belongs to the family of Lagomorpha. There are two main types of rabbits: the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) and the American Rabbit ( Sylvilagus floridanus). Rabbits are distinguished from other mammals by their long ears, short furry tails, and plantigrade posture. The European Rabbit is the only species of rabbit that is found in the wild in Australia.

Rabbits were first domesticated in the Middle Ages and they were brought to America by English settlers in the 17th century. The American Rabbit is a descendant of the European Rabbit.

Rabbits are nocturnal animals:

Rabbits are nocturnal animals, which means that they are active at night and sleep during the day.

Studies have shown that mammals have evolved to only get active during the times when their predators are not active. Rabbits are prey animals and have had to adapt their sleep habits in order to avoid being eaten.

Rabbits use their long ears to listen to predators and their sharp eyesight to see them. They are able to see 360 degrees around them without moving their head because their eyes are on the side of their head.

Rabbits have very good vision and their eyes are specially adapted to help them see in low-light conditions. The cornea, the clear part of the eye, takes up 30% of the rabbit’s eye. This allows more light to enter the eye and makes it easier for the rabbit to see at night.

Advantages of large eyes include:

1. Large surface area for light to enter the eye

2. Large field of view

3. Greater ability to see in low light conditions

4. Greater depth perception

5. Rabbits are able to see in color, but they are not able to see as many colors as humans.

Humans have three types of cones in their eyes, which allow them to see red, green, and blue. Rabbits only have two types of cones, which allow them to see blue and yellow.

This means that rabbits are able to see the colors red, green, and orange.

Is Rabbits’ eyesight good?

Rabbits have good vision because they need to be able to see predators. However, their eyesight is not as good as humans and they are nearsighted. This means that they can see things that are close to them but not far away.

Rabbits use their sense of smell to help them find food and to identify other rabbits. Rabbits have more than 100 million scent cells in their nose. This is 10 times more than humans!

Rabbits also have a good sense of hearing. This helps them hear predators and other animals. Rabbits can hear frequencies that humans cannot.

Rabbits use their sense of touch to help them find mates and to groom themselves. Rabbits have whiskers on their face that help them feel objects around them. They also have long hairs on their feet that help them balance.

Do rabbits’ ears open when they sleep?

Rabbits have adapted to not only keep their eyes open when they close. They also keep their ears open when they sleep in order to listen to predators. However, they can adapt to environments and if they are sleeping in an area where there are no predators, their ears will not be as open.

Rabbits usually sleep in short bursts of 1-2 hours. They do this so that they can be alert and ready to run if a predator is nearby.

Their sleep habits have evolved in order to help them survive in the wild. By understanding how rabbits sleep, we can better understand their needs and how to keep them healthy and safe.

Other adaptations:

When a predator is detected, rabbits will thump their hind legs on the ground to warn other rabbits of danger.

Rabbits are social animals and live in warrens, which are a system of underground tunnels that they build. The warrens provide them with protection from predators.

Do rabbits sleep with their eyes open?

Rabbits sleep with their eyes open and they also blink only 10 to 12 times an hour to remain on the lookout for predators 24/7. They have a nictitating membrane that closes over their eye when they blink. This protects their eyes and keeps them moist. As nocturnal animals, rabbits keep their eyes open when they sleep and only close their third eyelids and use their nictating membrane to keep their open eyes moist at all times.

Their eyes are very sensitive to light, so they need to keep their eyes open in order to see at night.

How can they keep their eyes moist if they are open?

Rabbits have a nictitating membrane, which is a clear third eyelid that closes when the rabbit is sleeping in order to protect its eye.

The nictitating membrane is also able to keep the rabbit’s eyes moist so that they do not dry out.

Do rabbits blink their eyes?

Rabbits only blink 10 to 12 times an hour rabbits so they can be able to see any potential predators.

Do rabbits have a third eyelid?

Yes, rabbits have a third eyelid, which is a clear membrane that closes when the rabbit is sleeping so that their eye is protected. The third eyelid is also able to keep the rabbit’s eyes moist so that they do not dry out.

Can you tell when your rabbit is asleep?

There are a few things that you can look for in order to tell if your rabbit is asleep:

• The rabbit’s eyes will be open but they will have a glazed-over look to them. They may appear a bit closed but it’s because they have their third eyelids covering their eyes.
• The rabbit will be still and not moving around much
• The rabbit’s breathing will be slow and deep
• The rabbit’s ears will be drooping down

If you are ever unsure if your rabbit is asleep or not, you can always lightly tap them.

How long do rabbits sleep?

Rabbits sleep an average of 8 to 10 hours a day.

When do rabbits sleep?

Rabbits are most active at night, so they sleep during the day.

Do all animals sleep with their eyes open?

No, rabbits are not the only animals that sleep with their eyes open. There are other nocturnal animals, such as owls and cats, that also sleep with their eyes open.

There are also some diurnal (active during the day) animals that sleep with their eyes open, such as crocodiles.

Eye and other rabbit adaptations to survive:

Rabbits have many adaptations that help them to survive in the wild. Their eyes are one of their most important adaptation because they help them to see at night and to avoid predators.

Rabbits are able to see 360 degrees around them without moving their head because their eyes are on the side of their head.

Rabbits have a third eyelid, which is a clear membrane that closes when the rabbit is sleeping so that their eye is protected.

Rabbits are also able to see in color and are able to differentiate different plant colors. The video below shows what your rabbit sees;

Rabbits have a keen sense of smell, which helps them to find food and to avoid predators.

Rabbits are able to hear very high-pitched sounds, which helps them to hear predators and to communicate with other rabbits.

Rabbits’ claws help them to dig burrows and to escape from predators.

The fur of rabbits helps to camouflage them in their natural habitat.

FAQs

Q: Do rabbits see well in the dark?

A: Yes, rabbits see very well in the dark because their eyes are designed to be sensitive to light. Rabbits are nocturnal and sleep during the day, although they also sleep at night.

Q: Can rabbits see when they are asleep?

A: Rabbits are able to see even when they are asleep as they keep their eyes open with a third eyelid open. Rabbits are able to do this because they have a nictitating membrane, which is a clear third eyelid that closes when the rabbit is sleeping and helps to keep the rabbit’s eyes moist so that they do not dry out.

Q: Are rabbits nocturnals?

A: Yes, rabbits are nocturnal animals and are most active at night.

Q: Do rabbits blink their eyes?

A: Yes, rabbits blink their eyes, but only 10 to 12 times an hour. This allows them to keep a lookout for predators 24/7.

Q: What is the difference between a bunny and a rabbit?

A: A bunny is a baby rabbit and the word can also be used as endearment while a rabbit is an adult rabbit and the word is incorrectly used to refer to bunny and hare. You can read more about the difference between bunny vs rabbit here.