Is the plover and crocodile symbiotic?
Except it’s not. The plover and crocodile exist in a symbiotic relationship – the plover pulls the annoying bits of meat and parasites out of the crocodile’s teeth and gums for its own food. There would be no relationship – and no plover – if the crocodile suddenly found another way of dealing with its problems.
Are the Egyptian plover bird and crocodile friends?
But it’s not like that in the friendship between the Egyptian Plover Bird and the Crocodile. Indeed, they have what is known as a symbiotic relationship, also known as Mutualism. As you know, Crocodiles are predators and eat meat.
How do crocodiles and plover birds help each other?
This cleans the crocodile’s teeth and keeps his mouth fresh and free from infections. This cleans the crocodile’s teeth and keeps his mouth fresh and free from infections. So, the Plover bird gets her food and the crocodile gets his mouth cleaned. In this way, both are able to help each other!
What is the ‘crocodile bird?
So, they befriended a little bird known as the Egyptian Plover Bird or the ‘Crocodile Bird’. They made a deal, you see; free food for the Plover and clean teeth for the Croc!
What is the bird that eats crocodile teeth called?
This tiny bird is called the Egyptian Plover bird. She gets into the crocodile’s mouth and picks out the tiny bits of food stuck in his teeth. What does she do with them? She eats them and often this completes her diet. This cleans the crocodile’s teeth and keeps his mouth fresh and free from infections. This cleans the crocodile’s teeth and keeps ...
What do crocodiles eat?
A crocodile is a carnivore which means it eats all kinds of animals that live in the water and even cattle. They have strong jaws. They do not chew their food, just swallow the entire prey into their stomach where it is broken down.It is while swallowing that the bits of flesh get stuck in their teeth.
Why do crocodiles growl?
A young crocodile calls to the adult when he is in danger and also makes a lot of noise while being fed. Big crocodiles growl and hiss at each other. They also pose and move their bodies in different ways to communicate different things to a fellow crocodile.
Do crocodiles need teeth cleaned?
Even when a Plover Bird is not around, his teeth still need to be cleaned! And a crocodile needs all this cleaning in spite of the following fact : A crocodile can grow new teeth through out his life. Each time an old tooth falls out a new one will grow up to replace it!
Where are Egyptian plow birds found?
Each time an old tooth falls out a new one will grow up to replace it! The Egyptian Plover Bird, as the name suggests is found in Egypt in Africa. Crocodiles on the river Nile are the ones that benefit from their service.
Do plow birds have jaw muscles?
They have powerful jaw muscles and can keep their mouth open for a long time. Let us look at the Plover Bird closely . She lives in pairs or in small groups near water bodies, just like our crocodile does. She flies in groups.
Do crocodiles clean their teeth?
This cleans the crocodile’s teeth and keeps his mouth fresh and free from infections. So, the Plover bird gets her food and the crocodile gets his mouth cleaned. In this way, both are able to help each other!