Abstract
This study examined the effect of situational factors on hand use for feeding in a sample of captive chimpanzees. Lateral bias in hand use was tested in biased and unbiased testing circumstances to assess strength and consistency in hand preference. For both unbiased and biased testing conditions, population-level right hand preferences were found for the sample. In the biased condition, subjects were more likely to overcome positional factors in order to feed with their right hand contrasted with the left. Overall, hand use in the biased and unbiased testing conditions was significantly positively correlated. In terms of strength of hand use, juveniles were found to be less lateralized than sub-adults and adults. Moreover, juvenile females were found to be more lateralized than juvenile males. Taken together, the data suggest that chimpanzee hand preferences for feeding are not constrained by situational factors and are relatively consistent in biased and unbiased testing conditions.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
