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Published on: September 22, 2023
Infant cradling in a captive mother gorilla
Carolyn Begg-Reid1, Michael A Schillaci
1Department of Social Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Scarborough, Ont., Canada.
Zoo Biology
|April 11, 2009
Summary
This study on gorilla handedness found a mother gorilla exhibited a left-side cradling bias, independent of her own handedness. This infant gorilla also showed a left head positioning preference.
Area of Science:
- Primate behavior
- Animal cognition
- Ethology
Background:
- Laterality, or handedness, is a well-documented phenomenon in many animal species, including primates.
- Previous research on African apes suggests specific patterns of handedness and limb preference during various tasks.
- Understanding these preferences in captive populations can provide insights into natural behaviors and potential influences on development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the handedness and cradling preferences of a mother gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) at the Metro Toronto Zoo.
- To examine handedness preferences across all members of the captive gorilla group.
- To explore the relationship between maternal handedness and infant cradling behavior.
Main Methods:
- Observational data collected using scan sampling at 60-second intervals.
- Handedness assessed via a coordinated bimanual tube test with peanut butter.
- Analysis of maternal cradling and infant head positioning.
Main Results:
- The mother gorilla displayed a significant left-side cradling bias, despite appearing ambidextrous.
- The infant gorilla consistently preferred left head positioning when cradled.
- Findings align with existing literature on left-lateralization in African apes.
Conclusions:
- Maternal handedness does not solely determine infant cradling bias.
- The observed left-side cradling preference in the mother and infant suggests complex factors influencing lateralization in gorillas.
- Further research on mother-infant dyads is warranted to fully understand these behavioral patterns.
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