Mutualism edition
Which species are you in your couple dynamic?
Just like you and boo, some species can’t survive without each other.
In nature, these relationships are known as mutualism – where one provides something that helps the other. Like bees collecting nectar while pollinating flowers in return. Or when you pick a playlist while your partner drives. (Passenger princesses, we feel you.) Here are more examples from the wild that might make you feel seen and heard. Which sort of mutualism can you relate to?
Pitcher plant & wooly bat
You love to eat their leftovers, just like the pitcher plant. Normally these carnivores don’t have many visitors – unlucky insects become snacks pretty quickly – but the woolly bat is special. They jump into the pitcher’s arms, a cosy hidey-hole to rest and roost in, bypassing their demise by leaving nourishing poo for the plant to eat.
Egyptian plover & Nile crocodile
You pick things out of their teeth, like the Egyptian plover. Nile crocodiles have developed a soft spot for their winged dentists, who love to eat the old food trapped between the croc's teeth. Plovers get dinner; crocodiles get free dental work – big date night energy.
Remora & manta ray
Keeping their skin clean means a lot to you, like the remora. They’re known as “suckerfish”, attaching themselves to manta rays for a mutually beneficial love story. Rem (you?) enjoys protection, transportation, and scraps, and in return it clears away ray’s parasites and pimples.
Clownfish & sea anemone
You thrive within their chaos; you’re the nemo to their uh-nem-uh-nem-o-nee. Fish normally avoid the anemone's stinging tentacles, but clownfish, like you, have developed a layer of mucus-y immunity. They clean parasites and chase away predators in return for a safe place to live… and some food.
Mongoose & warthog
You can’t stop playing with their hair, just like the mongoose. This could be a more extremne example though – they will feast on ticks and other parasites infesting the warthog’s fur. Hogs get cleaned up while the mongoose get fed. Everybody wins – well, except for the ticks.
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Haven't found your boo yet?
Dating guru Steve is the Cupid we never knew we needed. He’s helping endangered kakapo find the one – could his tips help humans, too?
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