Dominant eye-dependent lateralized behavior in the scale-eating cichlid fish, Perissodus microlepis

Abstract Visual lateralization, which is commonly observed in many animals, is believed to influence behavioral choices or lateral biases; however, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. In the present study, we examined eye dominance in the scale-eating cichlid fish, Perissodus microlepis, and t...

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Main Authors: Yuichi Takeuchi, Yuna Higuchi, Takaki Watanabe, Yoichi Oda
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10359-6
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author Yuichi Takeuchi
Yuna Higuchi
Takaki Watanabe
Yoichi Oda
author_facet Yuichi Takeuchi
Yuna Higuchi
Takaki Watanabe
Yoichi Oda
author_sort Yuichi Takeuchi
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Visual lateralization, which is commonly observed in many animals, is believed to influence behavioral choices or lateral biases; however, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. In the present study, we examined eye dominance in the scale-eating cichlid fish, Perissodus microlepis, and the role of the dominant eye in lateralized predation. P. microlepis responded to visual stimuli at a significantly higher rate when applied to the eye on the mouth-opening side than to the other eye, revealing visual lateralization. Impaired dominant eye vision with artificial cataracts reduced attacks from the dominant side, halved body flexion angle velocity, and significantly lowered predation success, demonstrating the role of the dominant eye in attack direction and performance. These findings reveal that P. microlepis has clear visual lateralization, which can be used effectively for side attacks during scale eating, probably with relatively high visual acuity or an efficient visual system, providing significant foraging advantages.
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spelling doaj-art-ce6faf77d1d340b28a7cf19d7ff069112025-08-20T03:42:36ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-10359-6Dominant eye-dependent lateralized behavior in the scale-eating cichlid fish, Perissodus microlepisYuichi Takeuchi0Yuna Higuchi1Takaki Watanabe2Yoichi Oda3Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido UniversityDepartment of Anatomy and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of ToyamaAdvanced Comprehensive Research Organization (ACRO), Teikyo UniversityDivision of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya UniversityAbstract Visual lateralization, which is commonly observed in many animals, is believed to influence behavioral choices or lateral biases; however, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. In the present study, we examined eye dominance in the scale-eating cichlid fish, Perissodus microlepis, and the role of the dominant eye in lateralized predation. P. microlepis responded to visual stimuli at a significantly higher rate when applied to the eye on the mouth-opening side than to the other eye, revealing visual lateralization. Impaired dominant eye vision with artificial cataracts reduced attacks from the dominant side, halved body flexion angle velocity, and significantly lowered predation success, demonstrating the role of the dominant eye in attack direction and performance. These findings reveal that P. microlepis has clear visual lateralization, which can be used effectively for side attacks during scale eating, probably with relatively high visual acuity or an efficient visual system, providing significant foraging advantages.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10359-6
spellingShingle Yuichi Takeuchi
Yuna Higuchi
Takaki Watanabe
Yoichi Oda
Dominant eye-dependent lateralized behavior in the scale-eating cichlid fish, Perissodus microlepis
Scientific Reports
title Dominant eye-dependent lateralized behavior in the scale-eating cichlid fish, Perissodus microlepis
title_full Dominant eye-dependent lateralized behavior in the scale-eating cichlid fish, Perissodus microlepis
title_fullStr Dominant eye-dependent lateralized behavior in the scale-eating cichlid fish, Perissodus microlepis
title_full_unstemmed Dominant eye-dependent lateralized behavior in the scale-eating cichlid fish, Perissodus microlepis
title_short Dominant eye-dependent lateralized behavior in the scale-eating cichlid fish, Perissodus microlepis
title_sort dominant eye dependent lateralized behavior in the scale eating cichlid fish perissodus microlepis
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10359-6
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