By Vandya Rai
AUGUST 06 2022
Clownfish are immune to an anemone’s sting. So, they hide among the tentacles to escape from predators. In return, they get rid of the anemone’s parasites and provide nutrients through their faeces. The clownfish’s movement also helps circulate water and oxygenate the anemone.
Forever better together
Image Source: Alamy
Image Source: Alamy
This crocodile is known for its aggressive behaviour towards trespassers. But, it happily welcomes the Egyptian Plover, right into its mouth! These birds feed on the decomposing meat stuck between the crocodile’s teeth.
The in-house dentist
Pilot fish travel alongside the deadly shark. They don’t get eaten because they keep the shark free of harmful parasites and clean up bits of excess food. In return, they stay safe from predators thanks to this mighty bodyguard.
A powerful posse
Image Source: Alamy
Aphids are little insects that secrete honeydew. Ants “milk” the aphids to get this sugary liquid. In return, the ants protect the aphids from parasites and predators. Some ants even move aphid eggs down to their nest to keep them safe.
A sweet exchange
Image Source: Alamy
Image Source: Alamy
The Colombian Lesserblack Tarantula and the Dotted Humming Frog of South America form an interesting alliance. The frog enjoys protection from predators, and in return, it eats the carnivorous ants that attack the tarantula’s eggs. The dangerous spider even shares its burrow with this amphibian.
A personal pet
Image Source: Alamy
Gobies share the burrows of Snapping Shrimps. Often, the shrimp finds comfort in resting its sensitive antennae on the fish. Gobies look out for predators using their chemical cues, which signals the shrimp to hide, too.
Underwater roommates
Image Source: Alamy
Anemone attaches to a crab’s shell to get a ride across the ocean bed. It also gets scraps of food from the hermit crab. In return, it offers protection from predators using the painful sting of its tentacles.
Hitchhikers of the ocean
Image Source: Alamy
Oxpeckers cling to large grazing mammals. They eat the parasites on the bodies of rhinos, zebras, or wildebeests including bloodsucking flies and ticks. Some oxpeckers even raise alarms when danger is close by, because Rhinos are short-sighted.
Always got your back