A species of jumping spider appears to enter a deep sleep phase that resembles rapid eye movement (REM) in humans, the stage in which we typically dream

November 2, 2026 3:44 p.m.

Portia fimbriata sleeps upside-down beneath a silk web. © Daniela C. Rössler

Even jumping spiders need some shuteye. By filming one species’ nighttime routine—and attempting to disrupt it—researchers have identified that it enters two different sleep stages, including one resembling the phase linked to dreaming in humans.

The work, published on October 26 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , marks the first comprehensive confirmation of sleep behavior in spiders.…