3 4 The Egyptian plover is a type of bird that will eat parasites and bits of meat from the skin and teeth of the Nile crocodile. The bird can often b

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Aubrie Bailey
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1 2 A newly-hatched baby cuckoo is in the nest of a warbler bird. A mother cuckoo bird laid her egg in the warbler's nest, which also contained a warbler egg.

The egg will smash on the ground, preventing the baby warbler from hatching and competing for precious food.

1 1 2 A newly-hatched baby cuckoo is in the nest of a warbler bird. A mother cuckoo bird laid her egg in the warbler's nest, which also contained a warbler egg. The warbler egg has a longer incubation time than the cuckoo egg, so the baby cuckoo will hatch first. After hatching, the cuckoo will instinctively push the warbler egg out of the nest. The egg will smash on the ground, preventing the baby warbler from hatching and competing for precious food. Mama warbler thinks the cuckoo is her baby and tends it faithfully while mama cuckoo is out seeing the town. Ostrich feet are large and are often used as weapons, particularly by the male who guards the nest. The kick, which has been known to disembowel a lion, is more powerful than a kick from a horse. Ostriches, zebras, gazelles, and other herd animals group together in a symbiotic relationship. With eyes that are two inches in diameter, the ostrich has excellent eyesight. The hoofed animals have poor eyesight in comparison, but have a keen sense of smell. Together, these animals have a very useful combination of senses for early detection of predators.

The bird then pecks at the teeth and skin, devouring its meal. The crocodiles rarely eat these dentist birds because they enjoy that just-brushed, fresh feeling.

2 3 4 The Egyptian plover is a type of bird that will eat parasites and bits of meat from the skin and teeth of the Nile crocodile. The bird can often be seen riding on top of the head of a croc, until the crocodile swims ashore and opens its mouth. The bird then pecks at the teeth and skin, devouring its meal. The crocodiles rarely eat these dentist birds because they enjoy that just-brushed, fresh feeling. Aphids secrete a sugary substance called honeydew that the ants love. The ants protect the aphids from predator insects and move them from plant to plant, milking them for their sweet secretions. Some honey ants even go so far as to destroy the eggs of known aphid predators like ladybug beetles.

5 6 Commonly called "air plants", epiphytic plants do not have roots, but instead live on other plants. In Florida, Spanish moss (an epiphyte) drapes over the branches of oaks and cypress trees.

The cypress trees and oaks don t seem to mind the company. Remoras are small fish that usually average between one and three feet in length.

3 5 6 Commonly called "air plants", epiphytic plants do not have roots, but instead live on other plants. In Florida, Spanish moss (an epiphyte) drapes over the branches of oaks and cypress trees. The moss gets needed sunlight that would not be received if it were rooted in the ground. Being higher up, it also stays out of the reach of most herbivores. The cypress trees and oaks don t seem to mind the company. Remoras are small fish that usually average between one and three feet in length. Their front dorsal fins have evolved over time into an organ that acts like a suction cup on the top of their bodies. This organ is used to attach the fish to a passing shark, usually on the shark s belly or underside. (They have also been known to attach to whales, manta rays, and the occasional diver.) When the shark feeds, the remora picks up scraps. The remora also feeds on parasites living on the shark s skin, keeping it nice and clean.

7 8 The honey badger, or ratel, is generally a solitary animal but it has also been observed in small groups. Ratels are nomadic and have a large home range.

Ratels, especially wounded ones, secrete foul scented anal oils to discourage enemies. Probably the most intriguing aspect of ratel behavior is its symbiotic relationship with the honey guide.

4 7 8 The honey badger, or ratel, is generally a solitary animal but it has also been observed in small groups. Ratels are nomadic and have a large home range. They are very secretive and usually nocturnal, hunting at night. When threatened, a ratel will attack and has even been known to attack human hunters and cars. Ratels, especially wounded ones, secrete foul scented anal oils to discourage enemies. Probably the most intriguing aspect of ratel behavior is its symbiotic relationship with the honey guide. The honey guide bird will lead a ratel to a beehive and wait for the ratel to rip apart the hive, exposing the desired parts. The ratel eats the honey and leaves the larvae and wax, as well as hard to get at honey. The honey guide then swoops in for a tasty reward of larvae, wax, and honey. Buffalo used to travel in herds across the plains. As they walked through the grass the insects would fly out of the grass and the cowbirds would eat them. Sometimes they would even ride on top of the buffalo, waiting for swarms of insects to emerge. Why would buffalo allow hitchhikers? Well, it seems buffalo are very large, but they have poor eyesight. The cowbirds, on the other hand, can spot predators nearly a half a mile away. When they see oncoming danger, the birds fly into the air, alerting the beasts to the threat.

A clownfish (like Nemo) builds up an immunity to the sea anemone s poison and then lives in the safety of the anemone s tentacles, venturing out only to catch its food.

5 9 10 Sea anemones are animals, but they live sedentary lives at the bottom of the oceans. They feed on tiny fish and zooplankton floating in the water, but have stinging tentacles to defend themselves from being eaten. A clownfish (like Nemo) builds up an immunity to the sea anemone s poison and then lives in the safety of the anemone s tentacles, venturing out only to catch its food. In return for shelter, they are good housekeepers, ridding their host of unwanted parasites and leftover food bits. They are ferocious in defending their territory, offering protection from anemone-eating fish such as butterfly fishes. The lamprey is an eel-like animal that attaches itself to other fish. It gets its energy and nutrients from the blood of other animals. The lamprey scrapes a hole in the fish's skin, attaches its sucker mouthparts, and sucks the blood out. This can cause sores on large fish, or can cause death to small fish.

11 12 Bromeliads are plants that grow on other plants. They are found in rain forests and collect rainwater to use in photosynthesis, rather than having roots to gather water from the soil.

These tadpole nurseries do not seem to help or hurt the bromeliads or the trees on which they are living.

6 11 12 Bromeliads are plants that grow on other plants. They are found in rain forests and collect rainwater to use in photosynthesis, rather than having roots to gather water from the soil. Several species of tree frogs will lay their eggs inside a bromeliad. This provides a safe pool for the tadpoles to develop into frogs. These tadpole nurseries do not seem to help or hurt the bromeliads or the trees on which they are living. Hermit crabs occur in sandy-bottomed or muddy-bottomed waters and occasionally on land and in trees. They have a soft abdomen, two pairs of antennae, and five pairs of legs. The first pair of legs form pincers and the crab walks on its second and third pairs of legs. It uses its shorter fourth and fifth pairs to grip its shell protection. As the crab grows, it periodically leaves its shell to find and move into a larger one, but it cannot make its own shell. It usually finds shells discarded by dead snails to use for protection.

Cattle Egret and Cape Buffalo

Cattle Egret and Cape Buffalo In this interaction, the cattle egret is a bird that follows around the buffalo as it eats. The buffalo is so large, that is causes animals to move around in the grass as