Ectotherms have been demonstrated being lateralized as well as endotherms. This specialization is particularly evident in some species in a bias using the eyes, having a preference in using an eye to observe specific kinds of stimuli, processing them with the controlateral hemisphere. Several ectotherms are favorite in this from having a lateral position of the eyes, making them able to carry out more tasks simultaneously, controlled by different eyes and hemispheres. Predatory responses seem mediated by the right-eye/left-hemisphere. As there are no strong evidences of this in lizards, we analysed if males of Podarcis muralis in a laboratory predatory context are lateralized when looking at prey and if this task is right-eye/left-hemisphere mediated. Using a T-maze, we recorded what direction they chose to reach a familiar prey observed at the left or at the right side of the longitudinal body axis. With concern to this lizards were lateralized (P < 0.05). The preferential direction to reach the prey is the right for the majority (4 of 5) of lizards having a preference, indicating even a tendency (P < 0.07) of laterality at population level. In addition, lizards maintained the head longer to the same direction they later chose to catch the prey (P < 0.001). Our study demonstrates how males of Podarcis muralis are visually lateralized to capture prey. This is another support to the hypothesis of the common ancestral derivation of vertebrate lateralization.
Lateralization in the predatory behaviour of the lizard _Podarcis muralis_ / B., Bonati; Csermely, Davide. - (2008), pp. 227-227. (Intervento presentato al convegno 4th Europ. Conf. Behavioural Biology tenutosi a Dijon, France nel 18-20 July 2008).
Lateralization in the predatory behaviour of the lizard _Podarcis muralis_
CSERMELY, Davide
2008-01-01
Abstract
Ectotherms have been demonstrated being lateralized as well as endotherms. This specialization is particularly evident in some species in a bias using the eyes, having a preference in using an eye to observe specific kinds of stimuli, processing them with the controlateral hemisphere. Several ectotherms are favorite in this from having a lateral position of the eyes, making them able to carry out more tasks simultaneously, controlled by different eyes and hemispheres. Predatory responses seem mediated by the right-eye/left-hemisphere. As there are no strong evidences of this in lizards, we analysed if males of Podarcis muralis in a laboratory predatory context are lateralized when looking at prey and if this task is right-eye/left-hemisphere mediated. Using a T-maze, we recorded what direction they chose to reach a familiar prey observed at the left or at the right side of the longitudinal body axis. With concern to this lizards were lateralized (P < 0.05). The preferential direction to reach the prey is the right for the majority (4 of 5) of lizards having a preference, indicating even a tendency (P < 0.07) of laterality at population level. In addition, lizards maintained the head longer to the same direction they later chose to catch the prey (P < 0.001). Our study demonstrates how males of Podarcis muralis are visually lateralized to capture prey. This is another support to the hypothesis of the common ancestral derivation of vertebrate lateralization.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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