Figure 23.14: Camouflage by the dead leaf mantis,Deroplatys desiccaa, makes it less visible
to both its predators and prey. If alarmed, it lies motionless on the rainforest floor of
Madagascar, Africa, camouflaged among the actual dead leaves. It eats other animals up to
the size of small lizards. ( 19 )
Symbiosis
The termsymbiosiscommonly describes close and often long-term interactions between
different species, in which at least one species benefits. The symbiotic relationship may
be characterized as being mutualistic, commensalistic, or parasitic. Inmutualism, both
species benefit; incommensalism, one species benefits while the other is not affected; and
inparasitism, the parasitic species benefits, while the host species is harmed.
Symbiotic RelationshipsMutualism Both species benefit.
Commensalism One species benefits, while the other is not affected.
Parasitism Parasitic species benefits, while host species is harmed.Mutualistic relationships include the large percentage of herbivores that have gut fauna that
help them digest plant matter, coral reefs that have various types of algae living inside, and
the relationship between the Ocellaris clownfish and the Ritteri sea anemones. In the latter
example, the clownfish protects the anemone from anemone-eating fish, and in turn, the
stinging tentacles of the anemone protect the clownfish from its predators (Figure23.15).
Commensal relationships may involve an organism using another for transportation or hous-
ing, such as spiders building their webs on trees, or may involve an organism using something
another created, after the death of the first.