Australian Lungfish <i>(Neoceratodus forsteri)</i>: A Missing Link in the Evolution of Complementary Side Biases for Predator Avoidance and Prey Capture

Abstract

Side biases in behavior, reflecting lateral specializations of the brain, are widespread amongst vertebrates. We studied laterality in the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) to gain insight into the evolution of the complementary specializations of predator avoidance (right hemisphere) and foraging behavior (left hemisphere). Because N. forsteri is the closest extant ancestor of the first land-dwelling vertebrates, knowledge of laterality in this species should provide a missing link in the transition from fish to tetrapods. Predator escape responses were elicited by generating pressure waves and a significant bias for C-start responses to the left side was found. This bias was unaffected by activity levels that change according to a diurnal cycle: activity is higher in the dark phase than the light phase. A complementary bias to turn to the right side was found during feeding behavior. This pattern of opposite-side specializations matches that known for fish, anurans, reptiles, birds and, as some evidence indicates, also mammals. Hence, we conclude that it is a homologous pattern of lateralization that evolved in early aquatic vertebrates and was retained as they made the transition to land-dwelling tetrapods.

Complementary lateralisation in the exploratory and predatory behaviour of the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis)

“…Our results also show the tendency to observe the prey with the right eye, in accord with previous observations in the same and different species (Bonati et al, 2008;Csermely et al, 2010;Lippolis, Joss, & Rogers, 2009;Vallortigara & Rogers, 2005). Moreover, since our tests were carried out in the same individuals, we confirm that visual lateralisation in lizards allows the simultaneous performance of important day-to-day behavioural tasks, such as feeding and exploratory vigilance, and also probably antipredatory vigilance.…”

Lateralization of Cognitive Functions in Fish

“…A significant leftward population bias in escape response elicited by generating pressure waves was also found in a nonteleost fish, the Australian lungfish (Neoceratodus forsteri) (Lippolis et al 2009). By contrast, in the one-sided livebearer, Jenynsia multidentata, the distribution of laterality score was bimodal with approximately the same number of individual escaping on left or right (Bisazza et al 1997c).…”

“…While this evidence is suggestive of lateralized predatory attacks by fish in ancient times, in the modern era few studies have examined lateralization of foraging behavior experimentally. Australian Lungfish were found to bend to the right side more often to eat inanimate food items (Lippolis et al 2009) and the authors suggest the greater involvement of the left hemisphere in feeding behavior is analogous to that observed in birds and anurans (Mench & Andrew 1986;Vallortigara et al 1998; see also Andrew 2002 for a discussion of the evolution of lateralized feeding responses). A similar study that compared goldbelly topminnow selected for opposite direction of lateralization at the detour test also found opposite lateralization in prey capture but only when individuals were distracted by a concurrent task -monitoring a predator (Dadda & Bisazza 2006a).…”

Lateralized Kinematics of Predation Behavior in a Lake Tanganyika Scale-Eating Cichlid Fish

“…In contrast, behavioral laterality at the population level is observed in some fish: the majority of individuals in a population being lateralized in one direction [26]. For example, Australian lungfish mainly show C-start escape response to the left side yet turn to the right side during feeding behavior [27]. The interspecific difference of behavioral laterality remains a contentious matter.…”