Science

Two distinct sleep stages emerge in jumping spider, including a REM-like state

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Based on a feed excerpt; full article content has not been acquired. Source evidence retrieved 26/10/2026, 19:10:24 UTC.

Briefings

Researchers at the University of Bonn discovered that the Australian jumping spider Portia fimbriata exhibits a sleep stage resembling REM sleep, involving rapid eye movements and muscle twitches. This finding challenges the assumption that only vertebrates experience REM-like states, as the spider's behavior was observed in a 2026 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Key points

• The Australian jumping spider Portia fimbriata exhibits rapid eye movements and muscle twitches during sleep, mimicking REM (rapid eye movement) sleep in vertebrates.
• The study was conducted by researchers at the Institute of Organismic Biology at the University of Bonn and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Context

This discovery expands understanding of sleep mechanisms beyond vertebrates, suggesting a shared evolutionary trait between arthropods and mammals regarding REM-like sleep states.

Limitations

The evidence is limited to a single published study from 2026. No additional data, experimental details, or long-term observations are provided. The specific duration of REM-like sleep and its physiological impact remain unmeasured.

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