Infant cradling in a captive mother gorilla

Publication Type:
 Journal Article
Year of Publication:
 2008
Authors:
 Carolyn Begg-Reid, Michael A. Schillaci
Publication/Journal:
 Zoo Biology
Publisher:
 A Wiley Company, Inc., Wiley Subscription Services
Keywords:
 , , , ,
ISBN:
 1098-2361
Abstract:

Abstract 10.1002/zoo.20197.abs The purpose of the study presented here was to investigate the handedness and cradling preferences of a mother gorilla (Gorilla gorilla) from the Metro Toronto Zoo. The study also examined preferences for handedness for each member of the captive group. Observational data were collected using scan sampling at 60-sec intervals. Handedness was determined with a coordinated bimanual tube test using peanut butter spread on the interior of a PVC tube. Our findings were largely consistent with the literature on laterality in African apes by documenting a left-side cradling bias for one apparently ambidextrous captive gorilla mother. This bias was associated with a left head positioning preference by her infant. Although based on a single mother/infant pairing, this study indicates that cradling bias is not always determined by maternal handedness. Zoo Biol 27:420–426, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

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