Saturday, 12 October 2024

Trunk Call?

Most humans are right-handed. A smaller proportion are left-handed. In the elephant some individuals have a preferences for picking up objects using the right side of the trunk. Others use the left side. The proportions of right trunkies to left trunkies is about equal. Scientists are now able to predict the trunkedness of elephants by looking at the wrinkles and hairs of the appendage (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/oct/09/wrinkles-elephants-left-right-trunked-study). This distinction in elephants may simply be a consequence of usage, rather than reflecting any differences in cerebral hemisphere dominance.
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