Visual Lateralization in Wild Striped Dolphins

Apart from findings on both functional and motor asymmetries in captive aquatic mammals, only few studies have focused on lateralized behaviour of these species in the wild. In this study we focused on lateralized visual behaviour by presenting wild striped dolphins with objects of different degrees...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2012-01, Vol.7 (1)
Main Authors: Siniscalchi, Marcello, Dimatteo, Salvatore, Pepe, Anna Maria, Sasso, Raffaella, Quaranta, Angelo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Dolphins (Mammals)
Marine mammals
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Summary:Apart from findings on both functional and motor asymmetries in captive aquatic mammals, only few studies have focused on lateralized behaviour of these species in the wild. In this study we focused on lateralized visual behaviour by presenting wild striped dolphins with objects of different degrees of familiarity (fish, ball, toy). Surveys were conducted in the Gulf of Taranto, the northern Ionian Sea portion delimited by the Italian regions of Calabria, Basilicata and Apulia. After sighting striped dolphins from a research vessel, different stimuli were presented in a random order by a telescopic bar connected to the prow of the boat. The preferential use of the right/left monocular viewing during inspection of the stimuli was analysed.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0030001