[Features of sleep in the water by the northern fur seal Callorhinus ursinus].

The peculiarities of sleep in water and on land were investigated in four adult Northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) of both sexes. The electrocorticogram of both hemispheres, the neck electromyogram, the electrooculogram and electrocardiogram were recorded with implanted electrodes. The interhemispheric asymmetry of EEG during slow wave sleep was observed in all the animals sleeping in water and on land. The relative amount of interhemispheric slow wave asymmetry was higher during the sleep in water comparing to that on land. The fur seals maintain their special sleep posture on the water surface by moving only one of their front flippers. The asymmetric EEG in fur seals sleeping in the water may be attributed to the asymmetric motor activity of their flippers.