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Lateralized righting behavior in the tortoise (Testudo hermanni)
Gionata Stancher1, Elena Clara, Lucia Regolin
1Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131 Padova, Italy.
Behavioural Brain Research
|August 2, 2006
Summary
This study found tortoises (Testudo hermanni) exhibit right-biased motor asymmetry during righting responses. This population-level lateralization in reptiles offers insights into vertebrate brain evolution.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral neuroscience
- Comparative psychology
- Vertebrate zoology
Background:
- Brain and behavioral lateralization is documented across vertebrate classes, but understudied in Reptilia.
- Previous research on reptilian lateralization has focused on lizards, neglecting the Chelonian order.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate motor asymmetries in tortoises (Testudo hermanni) using the righting response.
- To determine if a population-level bias exists in Chelonian motor behavior.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the righting response test, where tortoises are placed upside-down to observe their turning preference.
- Tested 34 tortoises, with 15 retested after 10 months, in a standardized apparatus.
Main Results:
- A significant bias towards right-side turning was observed at both individual and population levels.
- Consistent individual turning preferences were noted upon retesting, indicating reliable lateralization.
Conclusions:
- Chelonians, specifically Testudo hermanni, display population-level motor lateralization.
- This finding contributes to understanding the evolutionary trajectory of brain lateralization across vertebrates.
