“Good Buddies” Symbiotic Relationships Project Wild

Gazelle/Ostrich Both live on plains watching for predators

Cuckoo Lays its eggs in the nests of other bird species, especially Reed Warblers.

Yucca The Yucca moth that is genetically programmed for stuffing a little ball of pollen into the cup-shaped stigma of each flower. Moth deposits its eggs + eats seeds.

Whales and Barnacles Barnacles just hitch a ride –don’t hurt whale

Mistletoe on Spruce Tree Takes water and nutrients from the plant they grow on

Oxpecker/Rhino Oxpecker eats ticks and rhino stirs up insects

Shark and remora Shark = protection Ramora = feeds on food scraps

Army Ants and Silverfish silverfish clean the nests of army ants by scavenging on refuse without harming the ants

Wrasse Fish and Bass Wrasse fish clean bass by removing and eating parasites and unhealthy flesh from the Bass's body. The wrasse gets food and the bass gets cleaned!

Cowbird and Bison Cowbirds follow herds of bison to catch and eat the insects that are stirred up from the bison's feet. Birds eat the pests.

Mouse and Flea Flea benefits by getting the blood of the mouse.

Deer and Tick Deer tick engorged with blood from deer

Hermit Crab and a Shell PROTECTION

Bee and Maribou Stork The stork uses its saw-like bill to cut up the dead animals it's eating. This provides areas for the bees to come and lay eggs.

Honeyguide Bird and Badger The honey guide bird leads the honey badger to honey nests, which the badger will break open to eat the honey, that then enables the bird to eat a portion of honey for itself.