Department of Neurology, Swedish Epilepsy Center, Seattle, Washington.
University Child Development School, Seattle, Washington.
Brain Behav. 2018 Nov;8(11):e01126. doi: 10.1002/brb3.1126. Epub 2018 Oct 9.
Skateboarders, snowboarders, and surfers all show stance preferences for which foot is forward while moving. We are unaware of other animals than humans with a stance preference, perhaps excepting Osprey, who fly their caught fish beneath them in a foot-forward stance. We hypothesize there should be no difference between left foot forward, right foot back (conventional) versus right foot forward left foot back (goofy) stances or for fish holding with unilateral left or right foot. Online, publicly available, convenience images of Osprey catching fish were accessed and assessed by five independent reviewers using different Internet search engines or online photo series. Stance preference and footedness were tested using chi-square analysis.
Stance preferences were evident with the left foot forward (conventional stance) on average 64-78% of the time (all p < 0.02). No difference in foot preference for either one-foot grabs of fish during flight or for non-flight nest/perch fish holding was evident.
Flight stance of Osprey holding fish shows a lateralized preference in a proportion similar to skateboarders of surfers. We discuss stance preferences in the setting of complex movements and potential flight and survival advantages for Osprey.
滑板运动员、滑雪板运动员和冲浪运动员在移动时都表现出对前脚的站位偏好。我们不知道除了人类以外还有哪种动物具有站位偏好，也许除了鱼鹰，它们在飞行中会将抓到的鱼放在脚前。我们假设在左前右后（常规）和右前左后（反脚）站位或单脚持鱼时，左右脚的站位偏好或持鱼方式不应有差异。我们通过五个独立的评审员使用不同的互联网搜索引擎或在线照片系列，访问和评估了在线上公开的、方便获取的鱼鹰捕鱼图片。我们使用卡方检验来测试站位偏好和惯用脚。
鱼鹰的站位偏好明显，平均 64-78%的时间是左前（常规站位）（所有 p<0.02）。在飞行中用一只脚抓鱼或非飞行时在巢中或栖息处抓鱼时，左右脚偏好没有差异。
鱼鹰在飞行中持鱼的站位表现出一种类似于滑板运动员和冲浪运动员的偏向性偏好。我们在复杂运动的背景下讨论了鱼鹰的站位偏好以及对其飞行和生存的潜在优势。
