Hugo Benítez
Red-billed Oxpecker Symbiosis
2- Ecosystems and Communities
A particular example of Avian symbiosis, of the Red-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus). It is native to the savannah of sub-Saharan Africa, and south to northern and eastern South Africa. Although it sometimes hawks termite aerially and gleans prey from vegetation, the bulk of its diet are ticks plucked from the skin of large mammals, especially Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardis), classic examples of mutualism are either far more complicated than originally believed, or that they are not mutualisms at all(Plantan et al., 2013; Weeks, 2000). The relationship is obligate for the birds, and it is generally assumed that hosts benefit through a reduction in tick load but they are also known to feed on their host's secretions (e.g., mucus) and to exploit lesions for flesh and blood. (e.g. Weeks, 2000) In addition, both interact with a wide variety of potential hosts. *The picture has a little highlighted mainly green colors
Red-billed Oxpecker Symbiosis
2- Ecosystems and Communities
A particular example of Avian symbiosis, of the Red-billed Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus). It is native to the savannah of sub-Saharan Africa, and south to northern and eastern South Africa. Although it sometimes hawks termite aerially and gleans prey from vegetation, the bulk of its diet are ticks plucked from the skin of large mammals, especially Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardis), classic examples of mutualism are either far more complicated than originally believed, or that they are not mutualisms at all(Plantan et al., 2013; Weeks, 2000). The relationship is obligate for the birds, and it is generally assumed that hosts benefit through a reduction in tick load but they are also known to feed on their host's secretions (e.g., mucus) and to exploit lesions for flesh and blood. (e.g. Weeks, 2000) In addition, both interact with a wide variety of potential hosts. *The picture has a little highlighted mainly green colors