Mutual Admiration Society

Mutualism is a symbiotic relationship between two species where both species benefit from their mutual cooperation.  In my 'Birdbrain? Balderdash!' post I talk about the relationship between wolves and ravens.  Another example is the clownfish and the anemone.  The anemone's tentacles have a sting that paralyzes most other creatures, but the clownfish has learned to cover itself in mucus to protect itself from the anemone.  The clownfish lives among the anemones and receives protection from predators, while the clownfish protects the anemone from butterflyfish which eat the anemone.  And there is actually a third species that benefits from the relationship - algae lives within the anemone's tentacles and the algae needs the ammonia that comes from the fish poo.

Source:  Wikipedia

Another example is cleaner fish.  There are 'service stations' in the ocean where possible prey and predators declare a 'truce'.  The much larger fish, including sharks, allow the smaller fish to clean it without any dire consequences.  Cleaner fish include wrasse, cichlids, gobies, and there are even some shrimp that perform the same service.  The cleaner fish get a free meal and the larger fish gets rid of dead scales and parasites that could eventually impair its health.

Source:  Wikipedia

And there are some spas in Asia that use cleaner fish to rid PEOPLE with skin conditions of dead skin.  I probably wouldn't recommend it if you're really ticklish.

The maned wolf lives in South America and looks like a fox on stilts.

Source:  Wikipedia

Its long legs help it see over the tall grass that grows in areas like Brazil's Cerrado, an area similar to Africa's savannas.  Fifty percent of its diet is vegetable matter and fruit, and in particular, the fruit of the lobeira plant, also known as the wolf apple.  The 'apple' helps protect the wolf from giant kidney worms, a parasite that can be fatal to the wolf.  The seeds of the 'apple' can't germinate unless eaten by an animal and then 'released' by defecation.  And as in the clownfish/anemone relationship, a third species also benefits.  The wolf often 'does his duty' on the nests of leafcutter ants who use the dung to fertilize their fungus gardens.  They discard the apple seeds in their 'garbage dump' which greatly increases the chances that the seeds will germinate.

There are many, many examples of cooperation between species.  If just one species is eliminated, it can have an effect on others.  That's why it's so important to maintain balanced ecosystems.  We are truly all connected.

To see a video of cleaner fish, click here.  For a video of the maned wolf and other animals in Brazil's Cerrado, click here.