Animals have evolved to develop a wide range of relationships with other species, from predator-prey relationships to mutualistic relationships. These relationships can be complex and fascinating to observe, and can play a critical role in the survival and evolution of the involved species. In this article, we will take a look at 20 animals with interesting relationships with other species.
1. The African Elephant and the Oxpecker
The African elephant has a mutualistic relationship with the Oxpecker, a small bird species. The oxpeckers feed on ticks and other parasites that live on the elephant’s skin, while the elephant provides the oxpeckers with a safe place to live and a reliable food source. The oxpeckers also act as an early warning system for the elephant, alerting it to potential dangers with their vocalizations.
2. The Clownfish and the Sea Anemone
The clownfish has a mutualistic relationship with the sea anemone. The clownfish provides the sea anemone with food, by bringing it small bits of leftover food and the excrement from its own meals. In return, the sea anemone provides the clownfish with a safe home, using its stinging tentacles to protect the clownfish from predators.
3. The Cuckoo and other bird species
The cuckoo has an interesting relationship with other bird species, known as brood parasitism. The cuckoo lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, and when the eggs hatch, the cuckoo chick will push the other eggs or chicks out of the nest, leaving the host parents to raise the cuckoo chick as their own. This behavior allows the cuckoo to avoid the energy expenditure of building a nest and raising its own young.
4. The Cleaner Fish and the Reef Fish
The cleaner fish, such as the blue tang and cleaner wrasse, have a mutualistic relationship with the reef fish. The cleaner fish will pick parasites and dead skin off of the reef fish, while the reef fish provide the cleaner fish with a source of food. This relationship is so important that special cleaning stations have been observed in the coral reefs, where the cleaner fish set up “shops” and the reef fish line up to be cleaned.
5. The Sea Otter and the Kelp Forest
The sea otter has a keystone relationship with the kelp forest. Sea otters feed on sea urchins, which are herbivores that can decimate kelp forests if their population is not kept in check. The sea otters keep the sea urchin population in check, allowing the kelp forest to thrive. In return, the kelp forest provides the sea otters with food and shelter.
6. The Grizzly Bear and the Salmon
The grizzly bear has an important relationship with the salmon. The grizzly bears will catch and eat the salmon, as they migrate up the rivers to spawn. This not only provides the bears with a vital food source, but also helps to distribute the salmon’s nutrients throughout the ecosystem,
as the bears will often leave parts of the salmon uneaten and they will decompose in the ecosystem. This, in turn, provides nutrients to other species and supports the growth of vegetation.
7. The Greater Honeyguide and the Honey Badger
The Greater honeyguide has an interesting relationship with the honey badger. The honeyguide will lead the honey badger to a bees’ nest by calling and flying in front of the badger. Once the badger breaks open the nest, the honeyguide can enter and eat the wax and larvae. In return, the honey badger gets to eat the honey and adult bees.
8. The Oxpecker and the Rhinoceros
Similar to its relationship with the African elephant, the Oxpecker also has a mutualistic relationship with the rhinoceros. The oxpeckers feed on the ticks and other parasites that live on the rhinoceros’s skin, while the rhinoceros provides the oxpeckers with a safe place to live and a reliable food source. The oxpeckers also act as an early warning system for the rhinoceros, alerting it to potential dangers with their vocalizations.
9. The Hammerhead Shark and the Pilot Fish
The hammerhead shark has a mutualistic relationship with the pilot fish. The pilot fish feeds on the parasites and bits of food left on the shark’s skin, while the shark provides the pilot fish with protection from its own predators. The shark also benefits from the association, as the pilot fish will lead the shark to schools of fish, which the shark can then hunt.
10. The Grizzled Squirrel and the Giant Squirrel
The Grizzled squirrel and the Giant squirrel have a symbiotic relationship in their habitat. The grizzled squirrel, being smaller in size, forages for food in the undergrowth, while the giant squirrel forages for food in the canopy. The two species share a common territory, and will often alert each other to the presence of predators with their calls.
11. The Oxpecker and the Giraffe
The Oxpecker and the Giraffe have a mutualistic relationship, similar to its relationship with the African elephant and the Rhinoceros. The Oxpeckers feed on the ticks and other parasites that live on the giraffe’s skin, while the giraffe provides the oxpeckers with a safe place to live and a reliable food source. The oxpeckers also act as an early warning system for the giraffe, alerting it to potential dangers with their vocalizations.
12. The Crocodile and the Egyptian Plover
The crocodile and the Egyptian plover have an interesting relationship, known as a “cleaning symbiosis”. The plover will enter the crocodile’s mouth and pick out bits of food and parasites, while the crocodile remains still and allows the cleaning to take place. The plover benefits by getting a meal, while the crocodile benefits by getting cleaned and rid of parasites.
13. The Meerkat and the Mongoose
The meerkat and the mongoose have a mutualistic relationship in their habitat. The meerkat, being smaller in size, forages for food close to the ground, while the mongoose forages for food above the ground. The two species will often share a common territory and forage for food together, with the mongoose keeping watch for birds of prey and other aerial predators, while the meerkat keeps watch for snakes and other ground predators.
14. The African Wild Dog and the Impala
The African wild dog and the impala have an interesting relationship in the African savannah. The wild dog will hunt and kill the impala, while the impala, in turn, provide the wild dog with a vital source of food. The impala also play an important role in helping the wild dog maintain its population, as hunting impala helps control their numbers, preventing overgrazing and maintaining the ecosystem’s balance.
15. The African Buffalo and the Oxpecker
The African buffalo has a mutualistic relationship with the Oxpecker, similar to its relationship with the African elephant and the Giraffe. The Oxpeckers feed on the ticks and other parasites that live on the buffalo‘s skin, while the buffalo provides the oxpeckers with a safe place to live and a reliable food source. The oxpeckers also act as an early warning system for the buffalo, alerting it to potential dangers with their vocalizations.
16. The Marabou Stork and the Vulture
The Marabou stork and the vulture have a mutualistic relationship when it comes to feeding. The Marabou stork has a long neck and legs, while the vulture has a sharp beak and powerful talons. The two birds will often feed together, with the vulture using its talons to tear open the carcass and the stork using its long neck to reach inside and feed.
17. The Chimpanzee and the Egyptian Mongoose
The chimpanzee and the Egyptian mongoose have a mutualistic relationship in the African rainforest. The chimpanzee will often use tools, such as sticks, to probe for insects and other small animals in crevices and holes, while the mongoose will use its small size and agility to enter the holes and chase out the prey for the chimpanzee to catch.
18. The Anemonefish and the Anemone
The anemonefish, also known as clownfish, has a mutualistic relationship with the anemone. The anemonefish provides the anemone with food, by bringing it small bits of leftover food and the excrement from its own meals. In return, the anemone provides the anemonefish with a safe home, using its stinging tentacles to protect the anemonefish from predators.
19. The Pufferfish and the Cleaner Fish
The pufferfish has an interesting relationship with cleaner fish, such as the blue tang and cleaner wrasse. The pufferfish can’t clean itself of parasites and dead skin, so it will often seek out cleaner fish to do the job for them. In return, the cleaner fish will get a meal out of it, as the pufferfish’s skin is rich in parasites and other food.
20. The Sea Serpent and the Pilot Fish
The sea serpent, also known as the sea snake, has a mutualistic relationship with the pilot fish. The pilot fish feeds on the parasites and bits of food left on the sea serpent’s skin, while the sea serpent provides the pilot fish with protection from its own predators. The sea serpent also benefits from the association, as the pilot fish will lead the sea serpent to schools of fish, which the sea serpent can then hunt.