Variability of the behavioral laterality in Teleostei (Pisces)

Factors causing variability of behavioral laterality in Teleostei are reviewed. The laterality has been revealed in many fish species belonging to various families. The best ever demonstrated example of the laterality is the different use of the right and left eyes when a fish responds to different visual objects. Magnitude and sign of the laterality differ in fishes of different species, gender, and age. Also, an observed laterality depends on how familiar a stimulus is to fishes and what it means to them, as well as their motivational level and various behavioral traits. Therefore, comparisons of the laterality among different fish species should be based on experimental methods that also take into account those behavioral differences among them that are not directly linked to the laterality.