Most Kangaroos prefer their left paw over their right

Handedness was once believed to be a trait exclusive to humans. But then studies showed that bipedal primates also showed a preference for one hand over other. Now a new study has emerged which suggests that handedness may not be exclusive to primates either. The study conducted by researchers at St. Petersburg State University shows that kangaroos and other marsupials also exhibit distinct handedness traits. In humans, 90% of the population is right handed and it is believed to be an evolutionary trait. But according to the study report published in the journal Current Biology, the case is exactly opposite in kangaroos.

Kangaroo / Image License: CC BY-SA 3.0

The scientists observed the red and grey kangaroos and other marsupials like wallabies for a long period. They found that kangaroos and wallabies both preferred their left hand over their right in accomplishing tasks like feeding, grooming etc. However, red necked wallabies seemed to use their right limb during a fight or any other task requiring strength although they used their left limb for picking up things, feeding etc. Tree kangaroos don’t appear to have any preference in the use o their limbs.

“What we observed in reality we did not initially expect,” the lead researcher Yegor Malashichev says. “But the more we observed, the more it became obvious that there is something really new and interesting in the wild.” The scientists however are not sure why kangaroos are left limbed.

Handedness seems to be random and some animals show is more prominently then others. Nearly all species o bipedal animals have a limb they prefer to do certain things with. For example, orangutans are mostly let handed. Some amphibians also exhibit handedness. However, handedness is animals that walk on four limbs do not exhibit handedness very distinctly.