BIOLOGIYA MORYA, 2016, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 162-164

Asymmetry of pectoral flipper use in the orca Orcinus orca (Linnaeus, 1758) from Avachinskii Bay (eastern Kamchatka)

© 2016 A. N. Giljov¹, K. A. Karenina¹, T. V. Ivkovich¹, Y. B. Malashichev^1,2

¹Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg 199034;
²Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg 197376

E-mail:

Asymmetrical forelimb use is characteristic of many mammalian species. However, little is known about this phenomenon in cetaceans. We examined the asymmetry in pectoral flipper use by wild orca Orcinus orca (Linneaus, 1758). During observations from motor boats in Avachinskii Bay (eastern Kamchatka) we registered the use of flippers in slapping the water by individually identified resident (fish-eating) orcas. The studied individuals mostly used their right flipper. The revealed right-sided bias, presumably, reflects a pivotal role of the left brain hemisphere in the control of forelimb movements, which is consistent with the data obtained for other cetacean species.

Key words: orca, motor asymmetry, pectoral flipper, brain asymmetry, lateralization, cetaceans.