A red billed oxpecker(Buphagus erythrorhuncus) up close on the back of a cape buffalo(Syncerus caffer).It is uncertain whether this is true symbiosis or adaptive behaviour.The oxpeckers feed on whatever they can find on large mammals and it is believed the oxpeckers remove ticks from places the mammals can`t get to.Some newer data suggests that the mammals are more efficient than the birds at getting rid of ticks by their own cleaning methods.
Canon 7d and canon 500mm lens f 7.1 1/800s iso 2500
202 views as of 04/08/2013
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“African Beauty Group”
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