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Symbiotic Relationship Collection (#14)

In the vast ocean, a Dugong gracefully glides through the water, its massive body nourished by a seagrass meadow

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Clownfish

Clownfish
False clown fish in sea anemone, close up, underwater view

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Clown Fish Portrait

Clown Fish Portrait
Clown fish hiding in an anemone

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Bull-thorn acacia ants (Pseudomyrmex ferrugineus) on acacia plant

Bull-thorn acacia ants (Pseudomyrmex ferrugineus) on acacia plant

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) beneficial to soil, close-up

Earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris) beneficial to soil, close-up

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: A bumble bee gathering pollen from pink echinacea flower, close-up

A bumble bee gathering pollen from pink echinacea flower, close-up

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Kenya, Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru National Park, head of a Rothschilds giraffe

Kenya, Rift Valley, Lake Nakuru National Park, head of a Rothschilds giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis rothschildi) with oxpeckers perching on the neck, side view

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Honey Bee (Apis) perching on Linaria vulgaris (Common Toadflax) flower

Honey Bee (Apis) perching on Linaria vulgaris (Common Toadflax) flower

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Africa, Zimbabwe, Hwange National Park, Linkwasha, Oxpecker perched on nose of Cape Buffalo

Africa, Zimbabwe, Hwange National Park, Linkwasha, Oxpecker perched on nose of Cape Buffalo (Syncerus caffer) drinking from waterhole, close up

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Clownfish (Amphiprion sp. ) swimming through sea anemone

Clownfish (Amphiprion sp. ) swimming through sea anemone
Clownfish (Amphiprion sp.) swimming through sea anemone

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Sea anemone attached to shell of hermit crab

Sea anemone attached to shell of hermit crab

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Africa, Zimbabwe, Lake Kariba, Hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius) with birds and leaves on its back

Africa, Zimbabwe, Lake Kariba, Hippo (Hippopotamus amphibius) with birds and leaves on its back, standing at bottom of slope, side view

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Bumble bee on sunflower flower head

Bumble bee on sunflower flower head

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Clown Fish (Amphiprion sp. ) poking head out from Sea Anemone (Actinaria)

Clown Fish (Amphiprion sp. ) poking head out from Sea Anemone (Actinaria)
Clown Fish (Amphiprion sp.) poking head out from Sea Anemone (Actinaria)

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Amphipiron, Clownfish, mucus-covered gold body with distinctive white stripe

Amphipiron, Clownfish, mucus-covered gold body with distinctive white stripe, hard mouth for nibbling algae, large eyes, side fins for steering and changing direction, swimming amongst sea anemones

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Ants tending aphids on a plant stem C014 / 0969

Ants tending aphids on a plant stem C014 / 0969
Ants tending aphids (white) on a plant stem. Many ants, live on a diet of honeydew excreted by aphids (superfamily Aphidoidea)

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Lichen, SEM C014 / 4736

Lichen, SEM C014 / 4736
Lichen. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) showing the structure of a lichen. Lichens are the result of a symbiotic relationship between a fungus and an alga

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Ocellaris anemonefish

Ocellaris anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) hidden in a sea anemone. Anemonefish, also called clownfish, live in association with sea anemones. Both partners benefit in a mutualistic association

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Ocellaris anemonefish laying eggs

Ocellaris anemonefish laying eggs
Ocellaris anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) laying eggs. The process of egg laying lasts around half an hour. The female lays between 100- 1000 eggs

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Ocellaris anemonefish

Ocellaris anemonefish (Amphiprion ocellaris) hidden in a magnificent sea anemone (Heteractic magnifica) on a coral reef. Anemonefish, also called clownfish, live in association with anemones

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Food & bacteria in the ileum, SEM

Food & bacteria in the ileum, SEM
Food and bacteria in the small intestine. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of food debris (yellow) and normal intestinal bacteria (purple) on villi (projections, red) in the ileum

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Cleaner shrimp on a damselfish

Cleaner shrimp on a damselfish. White banded cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) on a threespot dascyllus (Dascyllus trimaculatus) damselfish

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Cleaner shrimp cleaning an anthia

Cleaner shrimp cleaning an anthia. White banded cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) cleaning an anthias mouth. Photographed off Rinca island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Cleaner shrimp on a grouper

Cleaner shrimp on a grouper. White banded cleaner shrimp (Lysmata amboinensis) on a coral hind (Cephalopholis miniata) grouper. Photographed off Rinca island, Komodo National Park, Indonesia

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Lupin root nodules, light micrograph

Lupin root nodules, light micrograph
Lupin root nodules. Light micrograph of a section through the root nodule of a lupin (Lupinus lupin) plant. The plants root nodules are full of nitrogen-fixing Rhizobium sp

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Giant moray eel and cleaner wrasse

Giant moray eel and cleaner wrasse
Giant moray eel (Gymnothorax javanicus) with a bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus, by eels mouth). Cleaner wrasses remove parasites from the bodies of other fish

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Golden damselfish and cleaner wrasse

Golden damselfish and cleaner wrasse
Golden damselfish (Amblyglyphidodon aureus, yellow) with a bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus). This species of damselfish inhabits reefs in the tropical Indo-Pacific region

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Star pufferfish and cleaner wrasse

Star pufferfish and cleaner wrasse
Star pufferfish (Arothron stellatus) being cleaned by a bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus, between eyes). Cleaner wrasses remove parasites from the bodies of other fish

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Star pufferfish and cleaner wrasse

Star pufferfish and cleaner wrasse
Star pufferfish (Arothron stellatus) being cleaned by a bluestreak cleaner wrasse (Labroides dimidiatus, lower left). Cleaner wrasses remove parasites from the bodies of other fish

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Spine-cheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatu). Papua New Guinea

Spine-cheek anemonefish (Premnas biaculeatu). Papua New Guinea
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Clownfish (Amphiprion bicinctus), Egyptian Red Sea, in sea anemone tentacles, 03-12-06

Clownfish (Amphiprion bicinctus), Egyptian Red Sea, in sea anemone tentacles, 03-12-06
Len Deeley / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Spotted Cleaner shrimp (Periclemenes yucatanicus) on anemone, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles

Spotted Cleaner shrimp (Periclemenes yucatanicus) on anemone, Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. Caribbean
Lawson Wood / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) and Pilot Fish (Naucrates ductor). Azores, Portugal, Atlantic

Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta) and Pilot Fish (Naucrates ductor). Azores, Portugal, Atlantic
Stephen WONG / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, gets cleaned by yellow tangs

Green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, gets cleaned by yellow tangs, Zebrasoma flavescens and lined bristletooth
Andre Seale / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Whaleshark (Rhyncodon typus), looking to head with pilotfish and Scuba Diver, Seychelles

Whaleshark (Rhyncodon typus), looking to head with pilotfish and Scuba Diver, Seychelles, Indian Ocean
Lawson Wood / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Whale Shark with diver. (rr)

Whale Shark with diver. (rr)
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Cleaner shrimp works on moray eel

Cleaner shrimp works on moray eel
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Lizardfish (Synodus variagatus). Indo Pacific

Lizardfish (Synodus variagatus). Indo Pacific
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Cleaner shrimp on red gorgonian. Indo Pacific

Cleaner shrimp on red gorgonian. Indo Pacific
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Cleaner shrimp on jellyfish. Indo Pacific

Cleaner shrimp on jellyfish. Indo Pacific
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Giant manta ray & photographer on scuba (Manta biostris). Mexico

Giant manta ray & photographer on scuba (Manta biostris). Mexico
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Starry Toadfish; cleaner shrimp on mouth (Arothon stellatus). Indo Pacific

Starry Toadfish; cleaner shrimp on mouth (Arothon stellatus). Indo Pacific
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Giant manta ray with Clarion angelfish (Manta birostris & Holocanthus clarionensis)

Giant manta ray with Clarion angelfish (Manta birostris & Holocanthus clarionensis). Mexico, Revillagigedo
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Giant manta ray, ventral view (Manta birostris). Mexico, Revillagigedo Is

Giant manta ray, ventral view (Manta birostris). Mexico, Revillagigedo Is
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Giant manta ray (Manta birostris). Mexico, Revillagigedo Is

Giant manta ray (Manta birostris). Mexico, Revillagigedo Is
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Nudibranch pair & cleaner shrimp (Risbecia tryoni). Indo Pacific

Nudibranch pair & cleaner shrimp (Risbecia tryoni). Indo Pacific
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Moray eel with cleaner shrimp (Gymnothorax sp)

Moray eel with cleaner shrimp (Gymnothorax sp)
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect

Background imageSymbiotic Relationship Collection: Clown anemonefish (Amphiprion percula). Indo Pacific

Clown anemonefish (Amphiprion percula). Indo Pacific
Tom Campbell / SplashdownDirect




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In the vast ocean, a Dugong gracefully glides through the water, its massive body nourished by a seagrass meadow. This gentle giant relies on the symbiotic relationship it shares with Halophila stipulacea to sustain its life. Meanwhile, in prehistoric times, an Alvarezsaurid bird fearlessly approaches the mouth of a Giganotosaurus carolinii dinosaur. With meticulous care, it cleans away remnants of food from between the sharp teeth of this mighty predator. A remarkable example of mutualism in ancient ecosystems. On sandy shores, intricate patterns emerge as Mint-sauce worms wriggle beneath the surface. These tiny creatures create trails that serve as shelter for other organisms and contribute to beach stability—a harmonious partnership between nature and these fascinating worms. Beneath turquoise waters, a Western clownfish seeks refuge within the tentacles of a Magnificent sea anemone. In return for protection against predators, this vibrant fish provides nutrients to its host—an extraordinary case of mutual dependence. In Mexican seas, a Giant manta ray majestically soars above coral reefs while Remoras cling onto both wings. These small hitchhikers enjoy free transportation and access to leftover meals provided by their gracious host—the epitome of commensalism in marine environments. Far off on Tenerife's coastlines lie Ocean sunfish swimming alongside Pilot fish—two species united by mutual benefit. The sunfish offers protection from potential threats while enjoying parasite removal services provided by its loyal companions. Within coral reefs dwells another helpful creature—the Bluestreak cleaner wrasse diligently cleaning among sharp teeth belonging to various reef inhabitants. Its bravery ensures not only dental hygiene but also sustenance for itself—a classic example of mutualistic behavior underwater. Back in ocean depths where darkness reigns supreme resides another symbiotic duo—the Dugong and juvenile Golden trevally swim side by side.