Unusual, but beneficial relationships

Some of you may have heard the phrase 'no man is an island'. It's true. We humans are social creatures who constantly interact with other people. You will be amazed to know that just as much as humans need other humans, animals too need other animals for survival.

No animal is entirely independent. In fact, in every ecosystem, animals interact not only with the plants, fungi

 and other living forms in their surroundings, but also with other animals.

The interaction between animals take many forms such as casual, intimate, active, passive, positive and negative. Sometimes the association between animals is highly complex and even bizarre, (unusual), leaving many a scientist baffled. Today we will examine one such form of interaction that is really fascinating which is scientifically known as symbiosis.

What does symbiosis mean? Literally, it means 'living together'. Well now you may wonder as to what is so unique about a symbiotic relationship because, all animals naturally live together in the wilds.

The reason a symbiotic relationship is special is because it is a mutually beneficial association of different types of organisms. Some of the symbiotic relationships formed in the animal kingdom which are on record are indeed extraordinary.

Why do animals form symbiotic relationships? What do you think? It is primarily to rid themselves of unwanted parasites, for protection, or as bait to lure food. Now let's check out some of these extraordinary associations.

A common sight in our land, especially in and around paddy fields and farming areas would be crows or other types of feathered friends hitching a ride on buffaloes and cattle.

These birds are not merely there for a joy ride. They are there for a purpose, to rid the big animals of the irksome parasites on their bodies which they cannot get rid of on their own. Both animals benefit from this association because the birds fill their tummies and the buffaloes and cattle stay clean.

Even predatory animals need help to rid themselves of troublesome parasites. In order to fulfil this purpose, they resist attacking certain vulnerable animals who are willing to do this service for them, in exchange for food - the parasites!

One of the most striking examples of a symbiotic relationship is the association between the Nile crocodile and

 the small species of wader birds also aptly (suitably) called the 'crocodile bird.'

Can you imagine any creature who would dare to even go near a crocodile, lying with its deadly jaws wide open, leave alone step inside its mouth? Well, the wader bird does so without any fear of being 'snapped up' by the deadly croc.

The little bird moves freely inside its mouth and body, deftly (skilfully) extracting leeches and other parasites from its body, and slivers (thin, small pieces) of meat caught between the crocodile's teeth. The croc welcomes the services of this little feathered friend because keeping his teeth in good condition is very important since it's a carnivore.

He cannot use a toothbrush or toothpick, like we do, to get rid of the food stuck in between his teeth, can he? So, the wader, with its pointed little beak, acts as a perfect 'toothpick.' Otherwise, the crocodile most certainly would have made a meal of the bird, the moment it stepped into its mouth.

Finding another creature to help get rid of irritating parasites or unwanted attention is a strategy adopted by many in the animals kingdom. Many such interesting associations are found among the creatures living in the sea too.

One such 'cleaning' association is that formed between the small and slender bodied species of stripped fish known as 'cleaner wrasse' and larger species of fish. Even though at least about 45 species of fish act as cleaners to larger fish in the sea, the cleaner wrasses are the most notable, according to marine researchers.

It is said that cleaner wrasse could be easily spotted because it does a special dance to attract its clients - the larger fish. It swims vertically with its head pointing downward and sways its body from side to side.

Larger fish who are in need of cleaning, line up and take turns to be cleaned by the wrasse. Very large clients,

 even carnivores permit the wrasse to swim unharmed not only in their gill chambers, but also inside their mouths. But there is a dangerous side to this whole clean up operation by the wrasses; the possibility of coming under attack by a 'false cleaner.' A sinister duplicate of the wrasse has evolved, featuring a deceitful species of blenny, appropriately called 'the false cleaner.'

This creature is like the wrasse in every sense, but instead of cleaning, it makes a meal of the big client. After luring its client, the false cleaner swiftly bites a chunk out of the unfortunate client's fins.

Another marine species famous for forming symbiotic relationships are crabs. We know that crabs usually have coverings such as shells to protect their soft bodies from prey.

Hermit crabs are famous for seeking out empty shells to protect their soft bodies. They also attract sea anemones to their shells because they act as stinging shields against predators.

However, some deep-sea hermit crabs do not waste time looking for such protective gear. They keep their soft

bodies hidden among sea anemones which give them protection from outside assailants.

Would you believe that some species of crabs even carry these sea anemones in their claws, like weapons? The moment they feel threatened, they thrust the sea anemones at the would be aggressors like fiery torches.

The anemones gain food and nutrients from this relationship. The sponge crab too uses an unusual method of survival with the help of a symbiotic relationship. What the crab does is use the sponge as camouflage. In fact, it places a sponge on top of its body and allows it to gradually grow all over it.

And what does the sponge gain from it? A free ride of course! But it's not just another ride in the waters. By being carried by the crab, the flow of water through the sponge increases. This enables the sponge to not only absorb more nutrients, but also get a regular and varied diet.

The symbiotic relationship between a honey guide, a small relative of the woodpecker, and a large, fierce badger-like mammal known as the ratel or honey badger is also truly amazing.

The honeyguide is adept at locating beehives, but it prefers not to break into them to obtain the wax. So, what do you think it does? Seek assistance from the powerful honey-loving ratel. The honey guide attracts the attention of any ratel which happens to be in the location by letting out a special cry the moment it spots a beehive.

The ratel follows the direction of the honey bird's cry as it hops from tree to tree, leading its partner to the hive. The formidable ratel spares no time in tearing open a hive once it spots the hive. The honey guide patiently waits till the ratel has its fill and the bees calm down, and then it happily eats whatever wax is left in the beehive.

Apart from crabs, there are other creatures in the sea that form symbiotic relationships.

Most of you would have watched the famous movie "Finding Nemo". Well, then, you'll remember that Nemo is a baby clown fish and that it usually lives among sea anemones.

Clown fish are well protected among sea anemones who gain from their presence by the prey the fish lure.

Is any one of you familiar with the Portuguese man-of-war? If not, let us enlighten you....It's definitely not a Portuguese soldier, but a deadly creature that lives in the sea. Its long, vertical curtain of tentacles that trails down through the water as it travels is deadly to most animals.

However, a small species of blue and white fish known as horse mackerel manages to spend a lot of its time swimming among the Portuguese man-of-war's tentacles because it can withstand the potent stinging cells of the tentacles. The horse mackerels are well protected from bigger fish that come to attack them because they get stung by the tentacles. And then, the Portuguese man-of-war makes a meal of them.

Similar symbiotic relationships are formed between voracious sharks and small remoras. The remora is not only protected by the shark, it also gets food; the chunks of meat that fall from the carcass of a shark's victim are eaten by the remora. And in return, the remora helps to groom the shark.

It swims all over the shark's body and eats any parasites attached to the body and also any dead tissue it finds on the shark's body. Some species of remora attach themselves to different big fish and even turtles sometimes.

Don't you think the lifestyles and the various methods animals adopt to survive are fascinating? Find out more about other symbiotic relationships in the animal kingdom.