Many animals show lateral bias in various behaviors. In fish, behavioral laterality has been studied from the perspective of its relation with brain lateralization. On the other hands, in some fishes, head dimorphism (righty or lefty) corresponds to behavioral laterality, such as foraging behavior. To examine the correlation between morphological asymmetry and behavioral laterality associated with brain lateralization, we conducted two behavioral tests (the detour test and fast-start test) using a poeciliid fish, Girardinus metallicus. In both behavioral tests, some individuals tended to move rightward, while others tended to move leftward, in a manner associated with head incline. In the detour-test, righty individuals primarily detoured leftward, whereas lefty individuals primarily detoured rightward. In the fast-start tests, the reverse tendency was seen; righty individuals tended to escape rightward, whereas lefty individuals tended to escape leftward. Such results indicate that brain lateralization may be also associated with morphological asymmetry.
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Zoological Science
Vol. 30 • No. 8
August 2013
Vol. 30 • No. 8
August 2013
detour
dimorphism
fast-start
Girardinus metallicus
morphological asymmetry