Relationships in the animal kingdom

I went to search for some relationships in the Animal Kingdom and I came out with a few interesting ones:

1)Blackbird plover and African crocodile
This is a classic example of sybiotic relationships. It is truly a case of the mouse helping the lion. The tiny bird helps the crocodile by removing tiny morsels of food from in between the crocodile’s teeth. And what does the bird do with the food thus picked? Eat them, of course. This two-way symbiotic relationship has resulted in a special bond between one of the fiercest creatures and a tiny little one.

2)Zebra and Ostrich
The zebra and the ostrich share a symbiotic relationship, where each makes up for the other’s deficiency. The ostrich has a very poor sense of smell and hearing, while these two senses are very strong in the zebra. It therefore prefers to move with the zebra, for the zebra often warns it when danger is lurking. And how does it return the favor to the zebra? Well, the zebra’s eyesight is pathetic, while the ostrich has excellent eyesight. It has particularly sharp seeing in the distance. The moment it sees danger, it warns its friend the zebra.

3)Ratel and the African honeyguide
Here is yet another example of symbiosis. The honeyguide, as its name suggests, is a wizard at locating bee’s nest with a delicious supply of honey. The problem for the bird is that it is too small to enter the bee’s nest and is also afraid of the bees’ sting. It enlists the help of the more powerful ratel (a nocturnal carnivorous African mammal that resembles a badger). With its coating of fur, the ratel is safe from the sting of the bees and he therefore fearlessly breaks open the nest and helps himself generously to the supply of honey. Once he is satisfied, he invites the honeyguide to take its share, probably a tip for helping him locate the honey.

4) Hornbills and Guenon monkeys

This is actually a case of commensalism whereby only the hornbill benefits. If the hornbills stick to the monkets and when the monkeys climb trees in search of juicy fruits, they cause moths, beetles and other insects to fall to the ground. These falling insects are veritable feasts for the hornbills. Feast without an effort, manna from the trees. The hornbills naturally stay close to the Guenon monkeys.