Deadly Australian jellyfish likes an afternoon siesta

It may be deadly, but the small and highly poisonous box jellyfish that infests Australia's northern waters also likes a nap.

It may be deadly, but the small and highly poisonous box jellyfish that infests Australia's northern waters also likes a nap, researchers said Thursday.

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The surprising discovery, the first time that jellyfish have apparently been found to sleep at all, emerged out of a groundbreaking survey intended to delve into the creature's private life, its spawning ground and night-time habits.

Researchers from James Cook University in Australia's northern city of Townsville found the creature typically goes to sleep about 3pm and carries on napping into the evening on the ocean floor, waking up with the dawn.

"I don't think anyone thought that jellyfish slept," jellyfish expert Jamie Seymour said.

"But the thing that was really mind-blowing is you can shine a light in their eyes when they're asleep, and you can wake them," said Seymour.