Mutualism Collection

Twoband anemonefish (Amphiprion bicinctus) in sea anemone on a coral reef. Anemonefish, also called clownfish, live in association with anemones. Both partners benefit in a mutualistic association

Fly agaric fungi (Amanita muscaria). The mycelium of the fly agaric fungus shares a symbiotic relationship with spruce, forming a mycorrhizal sheath around the roots of the tree

Proudhon, Pierre Joseph (1809-1865). French politician, mutualist philosopher and socialist
Pierre Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865). French politician, mutualist philosopher and socialist. Colored engraving

Man-of-war fish (Nomeus gronovi) living within deadly tentacles of Portuguese man o war (Physalia physalis), to whose toxin it is ten times more resistant than other fish, at sea surface. Dominica

Lichen (Teloschistes chrysophthalmus) growing on a blackthorn (Prunus spinosa). Lichens are symbiotic organisms formed of a fungus and an alga that mutually benefit one another

3 in 1
Etienne Steenkamp

Ocean sunfish (Mola mola) and Pilot fish (Naucrates sp). Tenerife, Canary Islands

Cape buffalo (Syncerus caffer caffer) portrait, Red-billed oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) removing parasites. Nakuru, Kenya

Giant Manta (Manta birostris) with Remoras (Remora brachyptera) attached to both wings, offshore Santa Maria Island, Azores, Atlantic Ocean

Ecuador, Galapagos Islands, Fernandina Island. Marine iguana and Sally lightfoot crab have a stare down

Picture No. 12479486
Fried egg jellyfish or Mediterranean jellyfish, Date:

Common Zebra (Equus quagga) with Red-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhyncus), Kruger National Park, Limpopo, South Africa

Common clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in the tentacles of its host, Magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica), on a coral reef, Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia, Molucca Sea

Lemon shark (Negaprion brevirostris) swimming with Remoras (Echeneidae), West End, Grand Bahamas, Atlantic Ocean

Darwin's Small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) cleaning Alcedo giant tortoise (Chelonoidis vandenburghi) of ticks, Alcedo Volcano, Isabela Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

School of Maldives anemonefish (Amphiprion nigripes) congregating around a Magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica) on a coral reef, Laamu Atoll, Maldives, Indian Ocean

Candy stripe shrimp (Lebbeus grandimanus) sheltering beneath tentacles of its host, Crimson anemone (Cribrinopsis fernaldi). Browning Pass, British Columbia, Canada. North East Pacific Ocean. July

An endemic Hawaiian pom-pom crab / Boxer crab (Lybia edmondsoni) carrying a juvenile Anemone (Triactis producta) in its claws as a defense mechanism

Two Common anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) with their host anemone (Heteractis magnifica), Yap, Micronesia, Pacific Ocean

UW INDO 1906 59
Emperor Angelfish - being cleaned by a Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus - Pantai Lahar dive site, Seraya, Kubu district, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Indian Ocean Date: 09-Nov-19

UW INDO 1905 53
Scissortail Fusilier being cleaned by a Bluestreak Cleaner Wrasse, Labroides dimidiatus - Liberty Wreck dive site, Tulamben, Kubu district, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Indian Ocean Date: 09-Nov-19

UW INDO 1902 19
Yellownose Shrimpgoby - with Randall's Snapping Shrimp, Alpheus randalli, cleaning hole - Pong Pong dive site, Seraya, Kubu district, Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia, Indian Ocean Date: 08-Nov-19

13131094
Long-cirri Phyllodesmium Nudibranch with cerata - with digestive gland ducts connected to zooxanthellae - Muka Linggua dive site, Bangka Island, north Sulawesi, Indonesia

Blackspotted puffer (Arothron nigropunctatus) curled up on the reef for the night, with a transparent cleaner shrimp (Urocaridella antonbrunii) inspecting its tail, Philippines

Mutualism between a Portuguese man o war (Physalia physalis) and a juvenile Imperial blackfish (Schedophilus ovalis), Tenerife, Canary Islands

RF - Maldive anemonefish (Amphiprion nigripes) swimming above their host Magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica) on coral reef

Picture No. 12479485
Fried egg jellyfish or Mediterranean jellyfish, Date:

Red-billed Oxpeckers (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) perched on White Rhinoceros (Cerathoterium simum), South Africa, Limpopo, Kruger National Park

Red-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) foraging on White Rhinoceros (Cerathoterium simum), South Africa, Limpopo, Kruger National Park

A pair of young saddleback anemonefish (Amphiprion polymnus) swim near the tentacles of their host anemone in Indonesia

Pierre-Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865). French politician, mutualist philosopher and socialist. Photography. Colored

Picture No. 11676375
Bucchich's Goby with Snakelocks Sea Anemone (Anemonia sulcata) (in Mediterranean Sea they take refuge among tentacles of this sea anemone resisting it's strong poison)

A magnificent sea anemone hosts anemonefish in Komodo National Park
A colorful magnificent sea anemone (Heteractis magnifica) hosts anemonefish in Komodo National Park, Indonesia. This part of the Coral Triangle is known for its high marine biodiversity

A tiny cleaner shrimp removes parasites from a Black-finned snake eel (Ophichthus cephalozona) on a sandy seafloor in Indonesia

Pair of Clown Anemonefish, Indonesia

A pair of anemonefish in its host anemone, Manado, Indonesia
A pair of anemonefish in its host anemone, Lembeh Strait, Indonesia

Spotted cleaner shrimp on pink tipped anemone in Curacao

Anemonefish in an anemone, Australia

Cinnamon Clownfish in its host anemone
Cinnamon Clownfish (Amphiprion melanopus) in its host anemone

Clown anemonefish in anemone, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Whole family of clownfish in dark grey anemone, Komodo, Indonesia
Whole family of black, white and yellow clownfish in dark grey anemone, looking at the camera, Komodo, Indonesia

Spinecheek anemonefish, Gorontalo, Indonesia
Spinecheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatus), head view, Gorontalo, Indonesia

Clownfish in green anemone, Indonesia

A juvenile Spine Cheek clownfish in its host anemone, Papua New Guinea
A juvenile spinecheek clownfish in its host anemone, Papua New Guinea

Pink anemonefish swim close to their host anemone
Pink anemonefish (Amphiprion perideraion) swim close to their host anemone on a reef in Palau

Percula Clownfish in its host anemone, Papua New Guinea

Pink Skunk Clownfish in its host anemone, Papua New Guinea

A Clown anemonefish in a purple anemone, Papua New Guinea
A Clown anemonefish (Amphiprion percula) in a purple anemone at the dive site Dickies Place in the Witu Islands, Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea

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Mutualism is a fascinating concept that can be observed in various forms throughout nature. Take, for example, the Twoband anemonefish and its symbiotic relationship with the Fly agaric fungi. While the anemonefish provides protection to the fungi by dispersing its spores through their feces, the fungi provide essential nutrients to the fish. Proudhon, Pierre Joseph, a French politician and mutualist philosopher, believed in a society where individuals could cooperate and support each other without exploitation or hierarchy. His ideas reflect the essence as seen in nature. Another remarkable example is found in Teloschistes chrysophthalmus lichen. This unique organism consists of algae living within fungal filaments, benefiting from each other's presence for survival and growth. In the depths of the Caribbean Sea resides another extraordinary case of mutualism: The Man-of-war fish coexists with deadly tentacles of Portuguese man o war. Despite being surrounded by toxic tentacles, this resilient fish has developed resistance ten times stronger than any other species. The Ocean sunfish and Pilot fish demonstrate mutualistic behavior as well. These two species swim together off Tenerife's coast in Canary Islands—where they rely on each other for protection against predators while also benefiting from food scraps left behind by larger marine creatures. On land, we find examples like Cape buffalo accompanied by Red-billed oxpeckers perched upon them. The birds feed on parasites present on buffalo's skin while providing early warning signals when danger approaches—a mutually beneficial arrangement indeed. In aquatic realms once again lies an astonishing sight: Giant Manta rays gracefully glide through Galapagos Islands' waters with Remoras attached to their wings. These small fishes hitchhike on mantas' backs to access food sources while offering cleaning services by removing parasites from their hosts' bodies.