Essential Knowledge: Symbiotic Relationship

Remoras get a free ride by attaching to larger animals such as sharks. They eat scraps of food left by the shark who is unaffected by their presence.

The protozoan which causes malaria lives in humans and female Anopheles mosquitoes. In humans, it grows and multiplies in red blood cells destroying them and releasing offspring that invade other red blood cells. During this cycle, the human experiences high fevers, chills, and flu-like illness.

Capybaras are large South American rodents. Certain birds will ride on top of capybaras to eat insects dispersed while the capybara walks and feeds. In exchange, the bird grooms the capybara, eating parasites and ticks from its fur.