Tortoise scare in downtown Uganda

[MagisterCultuum]

In our yard we've witnessed a squirrel and some chipmunks engage in what appears to be division of labor. The squirrel would stand up as tall as he could and turn his head in all directions, apparently on the lookout for any threats. He'd run when he saw a dog or crow or something approaching, and make a noise that led the chipmunks to run away too without bothering checking for what the threat was. Once the threat had passed he would go out and return to his previous posture before the chipmunks would come out of hiding. The chipmunks would run around, play, eat the food that we left out, and occasionally carry food to the squirrel, placing it right in his paws so that he could eat without leaving his vigil.

 

[Formaldehyde]

One of the coolest commensal relations in salt water aquariums is the goby and shrimp pair. The goby will stand watch and guard their burrow while the shrimp keeps it excavated.


Link to video.

The Tiger Pistol Shrimp (Alpheus bellulus) and the Yellow Watchman Goby (Cyrptocentrus cinctus) form a symbiotic relationship when paired together. The shrimp is nearly blind and can only see a couple inches. The goby will be the watchman and alert the shrimp when a predator comes into view. The shrimp gains vision and the goby gets a maintained hiding hole. Notice that one of the shrimps antennae will always be in contact with the goby whenever the shrimp ventures from the cave. A quick ripple of a fin is all it takes to alert the shrimp of trouble.