Jumping Spiders Found to Have Two Sleep Stages
New research shows jumping spiders cycle through distinct sleep stages that include REM-like biological markers.
Updated on Oct. 26, 2026 in Sleep Disorders
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Researchers have discovered that jumping spiders exhibit structured sleep stages, including a period of REM-like activity. This finding identifies biological markers of sleep in the species Portia fimbriata that mirror patterns seen in other complex animals.
Why it matters
The identification of sleep stages in spiders provides new insights into how restorative rest may have evolved across the animal kingdom. Understanding these parallels helps scientists track the biological function of sleep and its role in basic survival.
Researchers at the Bonn Institute for Organismic Biology observed the spider species Portia fimbriata cycling through 2 distinct sleep stages. The study confirms that these arachnids meet behavioral criteria for sleep, including elevated arousal thresholds and homeostatic rebound.
The players
Bonn Institute for Organismic Biology
A research institution focused on the study of organismic biology and animal behavior.
PNAS
The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, a multidisciplinary journal covering biological and physical sciences.
The details
The spiders enter an active sleep stage characterized by leg curling and retinal movement, which functions similarly to rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in humans. To qualify as sleep, the researchers verified that the spiders met five specific criteria: quiescence, postural changes, circadian organization, homeostatic regulation, and increased thresholds for arousal in response to external stimuli.
Timeline
2022: Scientists first observed REM-like activity in the jumping spiders.
2026: Researchers published the results of the study in the journal PNAS.
Health Landscape
Scientific interest in the evolution of sleep has traditionally focused on vertebrates, but recent findings suggest deep biological commonalities in rest patterns. This study pushes the boundaries of sleep research to include invertebrates, challenging prior assumptions about where these cycles originated.
While this finding is limited to spider physiology, it highlights that restorative rest is a fundamental biological requirement across diverse species. Discussing your own sleep quality with a physician remains the best approach if you experience persistent issues with sleep regulation or daytime fatigue.
The takeaway
Jumping spiders exhibit complex sleep stages that share surprising similarities with human REM cycles. Monitoring the quality and consistency of your own rest schedule remains a cornerstone of long-term health, and you should consult a doctor if you struggle to maintain a healthy sleep-wake cycle.
Further reading
Learn more about the biological foundations of rest by visiting our Sleep Disorders section.
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Does evidence of REM-like sleep in spiders change how you view animal intelligence?
