oxpecker

African tick-eater

An oxpecker is a small African bird that perches on large mammals—cattle, buffalo, rhinoceroses, giraffes—feeding on ticks and other parasites from their hides.

The relationship benefits both: the mammal gets grooming, the bird gets food.

Oxpeckers clung to the buffalo's back as it crossed the river.

symbiosis

mutualism

Two-way biological benefit

commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
hostOne receiving guests
interdependenceReciprocal reliance between entities

cooperation · beneficial · reciprocal · interspecies · rhinoceros · buffalo · zebra · giraffe · hippo · antelope

bird

avian

Of or concerning birds

feathersBird's lightweight covering
beakHorny avian mouthpart
wingsLimbs for flight

perching · flock · nesting · roosting · ornithology · insectivorous · birdbath · binoculars · ornithologist · twitcher

savanna

Africa

Second-largest continent

grasslandTreeless herb-covered ecosystem
wildlifeUndomesticated natural organisms
safariWildlife observation journey

plains · Serengeti · Kruger · mammal · herd · grazing · watering hole · bushveld · acacia · game reserve

feeding

tick

Parasitic eight-legged pest

parasiteOne exploiting a host
bloodsuckerOrganism feeding on plasma
fleaBlood-drinking jumping pest

lice · mite · larvae · insect · wound · gleaning · foraging · earwax · dead skin · blood

oxpecker

mutualism

avian

Africa

tick

oxpecker

Opposites

Categories

Family