Page 116 - One Million Things: Animal Life - The Incredible Visual Guide

PARTNERSHIPS

Day-to-day survival is a tough proposition for most animals.
Some improve their chances by forging partnerships with
other creatures. Symbiosis, the term that describes all such
relationships, comes in various forms, including mutualism
and commensalism. Mutualism is a partnership that benefits
both partners. Commensal relationships, like that of the Ant
protects
pearlfish and sea cucumber, have only one beneficiary.
aphids from
enemies

Buffalo tolerates
oxpecker’s presence

Oxpecker
eats
irritating
parasites

Aphid
sucks sap
from plants

ANTS AND APHIDS
Some aphids and ants have a
OXPECKER AND BUFFALO
mutually beneficial relationship.
Oxpeckers are birds that live in the African Aphids are insects that suck
savanna and have a close relationship with sugar-rich sap from plant
buffalo, rhino, and other big mammals. stems. Excess sap, called
Perching on their partner, they dig out ticks honeydew, oozes from
and other irritating parasites. The oxpecker their rear ends and is
gets food, while its partner gets relief. harvested by ants to drink.
In turn, ants protect aphids
from predators, such
as ladybugs.

Anemone’s
tentacles

Clownfish
among
tentacles CLOWNFISH AND
SEA ANEMONE
Most animals that stray into the stinging
tentacles of sea anemones
are paralyzed and
then eaten. Not so
the clownfish, which
appears to be
immune. It lives close to
the anemone, retreating between
the tentacles should danger threaten. In
turn, it may lure prey for its host to eat.
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