Mosquitofish Morph Lateralization
Description
This is the data for the manuscript "Color morphs of the Eastern Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) differ in visual lateralization." This original data set aims to explore if a difference in lateralization between the common silver morph and rare spotted morph of the Eastern Mosquitofish. To do so, the fish were exposed to a simulated heron strike via a 3-D printed model of a Tricolored Heron beak, our "Heron Harpoon," and eye use was recorded during lateral inspection of the affected area. Fish were tested as individuals, in monomorphic groups of 5, heteromorphic groups of 5, and finally as individuals for consistency. Overall, mottled males displayed strongly lateralized left eye use where silver males displayed mixed lateralization across all treatments. When checked for shoal turning cohesion, individual fish did not appear to modify their behavior to follow the group.