Science News Archive

Right Flippered Walruses

News last week was released that Walruses are right handed or should I say flippered, and prefer to use them to forage for clams on the sea bed. Apparently the bones in the walrus’ right limb are longer than the left, just like we see in right handed people. This adds walrus’ to the growing list of animals that seem to have a preference of using one hand or flipper, over the other, which includes Chimps, monkeys and crows. Apparently even humpback whales use either the right or left side of their jaw when snatching prey and habour seals use their right flipper to beat the sand and scare out of hiding the sand eels that they like to eat.

2nd Nov 2003