ScienceNews recently published an article detailing findings from a study about the symbiotic relationship between zebras and giraffes. Ecologists Romain Dejeante, Marion Valeix, and Simon Chamaillé-Jammes at the Center for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology in France attached cameras to zebras roaming around a 130-year-old nature reserve in South Africa.
Upon reviewing all the amazing footage they collected, the researchers concluded that zebras made a point to move alongside their long-necked friends through areas filled with lions and other threats that compromised their survival. The symbiotic bond between giraffes and zebras not only increases both species’ chances of survival but also illustrates how animals both on land and in water form alliances that help them survive and thrive.
Have you ever wondered if certain animals in the sea “pal around”? In this blog post, we will discuss ten animals in the ocean that have a symbiotic relationship. You’re bound to be surprised and intrigued by these ten sea symbiotic relationships and the benefits they offer the creatures involved. Let’s “dive in”!
These unlikely hunting partners work together to ensure they each get a satisfying meal. The grouper is known to help the octopus locate prey. Videos like this one show them taking a “come out, come out wherever you are” approach, and when they get their prey to show face, their panicked prey either swim toward the mouth of the grouper or the octopus (and maybe sometimes both!). At the end of the day, this sea symbiotic relationship demonstrates the advantages of teamwork.
Suckerfish, or remoras, can perhaps best be described as the wellness-inspired hitchhikers of the ocean. Remoras attach themselves to large marine mammals (think manta rays, sea turtles, whales, and sharks) so they can eat parasites and dead skin that could otherwise harm these animals. By attaching themselves to their agreeable hosts, suckerfish not only get to eat scraps of prey they drop but also receive added protection from their own predators.
You’re familiar with hermit crabs, but do you know how they inherit the shells that protect them? One of the most interesting sea symbiotic relationships involves hermit crabs taking shells from gastropod mollusks that have died. Unlike snails, hermit crabs are not capable of producing their own shell, which means they must find empty ones and try them on for size. If a shell is too big, a “housing exchange” is in order. This BBC video depicts the process of snagging a vacated shell.
The goby and the shrimp are another pair of animals in the ocean that have a symbiotic relationship. Gobies (small to medium-sized ray-finned fish) assume the role of bodyguard for alpheid shrimps, which excel at building burrows yet are blind and, therefore, particularly vulnerable to predators. Should the shrimp venture outside of their safe burrow, the goby wiggles its body to signal impending danger. In exchange for their help, the shrimps give the gobies a home, not to mention an invitation to deposit their fish eggs in the burrow during mating season. That’s true friendship, if you ask us.
Anemones are marine mammals that resemble a colorful underwater flower. They kill their prey by stunning and stinging them with their tentacles. Clownfish can survive anemone stings because they are immune to the anemone’s toxin. In terms of sea symbiotic relationships, this one works by the anemone providing a home for clownfish and even offering it scraps of food. In return, the clownfish removes harmful parasites from the anemone and chases away fellow toxic-immune fish known to feed on anemones. For an extra dose of adorableness, we will now quote these sentences from the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation: “Since clownfish receive such great protection from anemones, they rarely stray far from them. At night, clownfish stay safely within the swaying arms of the anemone.”
Anemones also maintain sea symbiotic relationships with boxer crabs. The crabs make a point to feed the anemone, and in return, the anemone lends the boxer crabs its stinging tentacles so the crab can use them as a defense mechanism. Interestingly, boxer crabs attach the sea anemones to their claws, waving and wielding them in a way that sends a clear “don’t mess with us” message.
Emperor shrimps regard sea cucumbers as their main mode of transportation. Upon locating a sea cucumber, the emperor shrimp attaches to its back. It goes where the sea cucumber goes, and the emperor shrimp expresses its gratitude by removing harmful parasites from the sea cucumber. In the case of animals in the ocean that have a symbiotic relationship, this one speaks to the joys of free piggyback rides.
If decorator crabs could talk, they’d try to tell you how wonderful it is to dress in sponge. These crabs snip off pieces of living sponges and use them to decorate their carapaces. The result? A well-fitted camouflage outfit that protects the crab from predators. Since the crabs will be moving around to find food, the sponges benefit by being afforded more feeding opportunities than they would otherwise have, so they can’t complain about that, right?
We’d be remiss not to mention one of the most important sea symbiotic relationships in the ocean: the relationship between zooxanthellae cells and coral reefs. Zooxanthellae cells help coral reefs thrive by providing sustenance from their photosynthesis. Coral reefs respond in kind by giving these cells the nutrients and protected environment they need to survive.
We’ll conclude this list of animals in the ocean that have a symbiotic relationship by introducing you to the unique relationship between cleaner shrimps and moray eels. Take a look at this photo of the moray eel. Despite how terrifying it looks, it still needs its teeth brushed, and, well . . . cleaner shrimps are up for playing dentist. According to Two Fish Divers, “The moray eel will give a free meal to any shrimp which cleans it of its parasitic load. Cleaner shrimp are usually especially keen on cleaning around the moray eel’s eyes, gills, teeth – even bravely entering the eel’s mouth to ensure a thorough teeth cleaning session and a decent meal.” Of all the animals in the ocean that have a symbiotic relationship, it seems safe to say that cleaner shrimps represent the bravest of the brave.
One of the most important takeaways of this article is how sea symbiotic relationships speak to the importance of creating bonds. The best friendships and relationships, after all, are mutually beneficial ones.
Speaking of bonds, our team at Harbor Breeze Cruises believes that the bonds you make with nature are bonds you’ll cherish. Join us for a cruise on our eco-friendly catamarans! Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 562-983-6880.
