Spot the
Symbiotes
Clownfish/AnemonesMutualism
Sea anemones sting most
fish. But not clownfish!
Mucus on clownfish skin
protects it from the stings.
These orange swimmers
shelter among anemone
tentacles. In return,
clownfish help lure prey for
the anemone. The anemone
also takes in nutrients from
clownfish waste.
X
Parasitism:
Two
creatures
interact, but
one harms
the other.
When different species live
in close contact and interact
with each other, it’s called
symbiosis. Symbiosis comes
in three main types:
Mutualism:
Two
creatures
interact,
and both
benefit.
Commensalism:
Two creatures
interact. One
benefits and
the other goes
unaffected.
Match the pairs below to see symbiosis in action!
First, click on a photo on the left side of the page.Then find the symbiotic partner on the right side.
Ants/AphidsMutualism
Aphids eat plant
sap and create a
substance called
honeydew. Ants
love this sweet,
nutritious liquid.
They love it so
much that they
protect aphids from
predators! They
might even move
aphid eggs to better
leaf-eating areas.
An ant feeds
on honeydew
from an aphid.
Photo by Jmalik/CC 3.0
Water Buffalo/
Cattle Egrets
Mutualism
Cattle egrets love to
peck up bugs. Bugs
love to bite water
buffalos. Cattle egrets
gobble the pesky
pests. The water
buffalo gets relief.
The egret gets a
well-earned meal!
Vultures/LionsCommensalism
Lions roam the
African savanna
for prey. When
they leave scraps
behind, vultures
swoop in for the
leftovers. This
doesn’t benefit or
harm the lions. But
vultures depend
on these larger
predators for food!
Whales/Barnacles
Commensalism
Many whales eat
plankton. So do
barnacles. But
barnacles can’t
swim. By latching
on to whales, they
get a free ride to
dinner. The whales
don’t seem to mind
the company!
Human/Tick
Parasitism
Here’s an unwelcome
surprise after a nature
hike. You find a tick
stuck to your skin!
These tiny parasites
attach to bigger
creatures, like dogs,
deer, and humans.
They feed on blood.
Sometimes ticks
spread dangerous
diseases.
First, click on an photo on the left side of the page.Then find the symbiotic partner on the right side.