tickbird
Rhino's grooming companion
A tickbird is a small African bird that perches on large mammals—cattle, rhinos, buffalo—and feeds on ticks and other parasites from their hides.
The relationship benefits both: the bird gets food, the host gets grooming.
Also called oxpecker.
Tickbirds clustered on the elephant's back.
Large horned African mammal
- buffaloLarge North American bovine
- giraffeTallest land animal
- zebraStriped African horse relative
- hippopotamusLarge semi-aquatic African mammal
antelope · wildebeest · impala · cattle · elephant · warthog · eland · kudu
Two-way biological benefit
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- interdependenceReciprocal reliance between entities
- hostOne receiving guests
- coevolutionReciprocal adaptation between interacting species
reciprocity · cooperation · benefit · interspecies · symbiont · adaptation · niche · coexistence
Tropical grassland, sparse trees
rhinoceros
Large horned African mammal
hippopotamus · antelope · wildebeest · impala · cattle · elephant · warthog · eland · kudu · ungulates
mutualism
Two-way biological benefit
- commensalismNeutral host, benefiting guest
- interdependenceReciprocal reliance between entities
- hostOne receiving guests
coevolution · reciprocity · cooperation · benefit · interspecies · symbiont · adaptation · niche · coexistence
savanna
Tropical grassland, sparse trees
feathers
Bird's lightweight covering
plumage · pecking · flock · nest · eggs · roost · songbird · ornithology · birdsong · claws
parasites
Organisms feeding off hosts
- ectoparasitesParasites inhabiting host surfaces
- mitesMinuscule parasitic arachnids
- liceBloodsucking scalp insects
insects · foraging · preening · cleaning · earwax · blood · hide · fur · skin · debridement
tickbirdpest
Harmful creature or nag
vermin · disease vector · infestation · pathogen · biting fly