If Skippy the bush kangaroo could have written, chances are the much-loved marsupial would have used the left paw to pick up a pen, researchers say.
After monitoring the habits of a range of kangaroo species, a team of global scientists have determined the creatures are left handed. Or, more accurately, `left pawed'.
University of Tasmania PhD student Janeane Ingram is the co-author of a paper published on Friday which shows kangaroos display a forelimb preference, comparable in strength with human handedness, only they favour the left not the right.
"The eastern grey and red kangaroos showed a strong preference for left forelimb use for all the observed types of behaviour," Ms Ingram said of observations made in Tasmania, NSW and at zoos in Germany.
"Red-necked wallabies showed a population-level preference for left forelimb use for feeding ... and self-grooming."
The research was published in a biology journal and Ms Ingram said is exciting because handedness was previously assumed to have evolved primarily in humans and primates.
"(However) laterality is also obvious in how parrots hold their food or how your dog shakes hands," she said.
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