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The bird that is known for sitting in a crocodile’s mouth is called the Egyptian plover. This unique relationship between the Egyptian plover and the Nile crocodile is an example of mutualism, where two species benefit from interacting with each other.
More on the Egyptian Plover
The Egyptian plover (Pluvianus aegyptius) is a wading bird found across sub-Saharan Africa. It gets its name from its habit of living alongside the Nile crocodile. The Egyptian plover is a relatively small bird, measuring around 9 inches long and weighing 2-3 ounces.
Some key facts about the Egyptian plover:
- Species: Pluvianus aegyptius
- Other Names: Crocodile bird, Nile plover
- Size: 9 inches long, 2-3 oz weight
- Habitat: Sub-Saharan Africa, lives near crocodiles
- Diet: Insects, parasites, food scraps
The Egyptian plover has long legs, white and brown plumage, and a long beak it uses for feeding on insects and other small prey. One of its most distinctive features is its bold black and yellow eyes.
Relationship with the Nile Crocodile
The Egyptian plover has developed a unique symbiotic relationship with the Nile crocodile. The bird will actually enter the crocodile’s mouth to pick out parasites and food scraps lodged between the croc’s teeth.
This enterprising bird benefits by getting an easy meal, while the crocodile gets dental hygiene and tooth cleaning services from the plover! It’s a classic win-win mutualistic relationship.
Some key points about how the Egyptian plover interacts with crocodiles:
- Picks parasites and food scraps from croc’s teeth
- Enters croc’s mouth when jaws are slightly open
- Croc allows plover inside without harming it
- Benefits both species – plover gets food, croc gets teeth cleaned
- Display of symbiosis between two different species
The Egyptian plover shows no fear when hopping into the maw of a crocodile that could easily swallow it whole in an instant. But the crocodile tolerates the presence of the bird and does not perceive it as prey. This allows the plover to pick through the teeth of the croc to obtain an easy meal.
Croc and Plover Interactions
When an Egyptian plover approaches a crocodile, the crocodile will sense the bird and partially open its jaws. The plover will then walk right into the crocodile’s mouth and begin searching for food particles stuck in the teeth.
The crocodile remains calm and does not clamp down during this tooth cleaning process. The plover zigzags its way through the long rows of sharp teeth, using its beak to pick out insects, leeches, seeds, and other debris. This interspecies interaction can last for up to 10 minutes.
Some interesting points about how crocs and plovers interact:
- Croc senses plover’s presence and opens jaws
- Plover walks into mouth without hesitation
- Bird zigzags between teeth looking for food
- Croc remains calm and doesn’t attack
- Tooth cleaning session can last up to 10 mins
- Plover exits mouth when finished
This symbiotic tooth cleaning routine helps keep the crocodile healthy. Without the Egyptian plover, parasites and rotting food particles would remain stuck in the crocodile’s teeth. So the plover provides a useful dental service in exchange for an easy meal!
Odd Symbiotic Relationship
The bizarre symbiotic relationship between the Egyptian plover and the Nile crocodile is unique in the animal kingdom:
- A bird entering a reptile’s mouth safely is very unusual
- Normally birds are prey for crocodilians
- Demonstrates trust between two very different species
- Exact nature of relationship not fully known
- May have evolved over thousands of years
- Provides clear benefit to both species
Scientists are still researching how this strange alliance first developed. It likely evolved gradually over thousands of years. The Egyptian plover slowly adapted to approach crocs and clean their mouths. And crocodiles slowly learned to tolerate the plovers instead of snapping them up as prey.
This symbiosis vividly illustrates how even species we consider natural enemies can develop cooperative partnerships that benefit both sides. The croc gets dental hygiene while the plover gets an easy meal, all with no conflict or violence between predator and potential prey.
Range and Habitat
The Egyptian plover is found across sub-Saharan Africa in areas where Nile crocodiles are present:
- Found near lakes, rivers, marshes
- Lives in areas where crocodiles thrive
- Seen in Egypt along the Nile River
- Also found in Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania
- Likes warm, humid climates
The bird prefers habitats with shallow water since this allows it to easily walk and forage. It especially favors quiet backwaters and lagoons where crocodiles gather and wait for prey. Living alongside crocodiles allows easy access for the Egyptian plover to enter croc mouths for tooth cleaning sessions and food gathering.
Some key habitat features for the Egyptian plover:
- Shallow fresh water
- Lakes, rivers, marshes
- Backwaters and lagoons
- Areas with basking crocodiles
The alliance with crocodiles gives the Egyptian plover reliable access to food. In return, the bird keeps the crocodile’s mouth clean. Their symbiotic relationship helps support both species in their shared habitat.
Importance of Crocodiles
The strange relationship between the Egyptian plover and Nile crocodile highlights the importance of crocodiles to certain ecosystems:
- As top predators, crocs maintain balance
- Scavenging by crocs returns nutrients to water
- Croc presence supports specialized species like the plover
- Loss of crocs can damage food chains
- Many species depend indirectly on crocodiles
While seen as dangerous predators, crocodiles are actually crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems and food webs. Scavenging by crocodiles returns nutrients from dead animals back into the water. This benefits fish, birds, and other wildlife.
Specialized niche species like the Egyptian plover rely directly on crocodiles for food and access to their mouths for hygiene reasons. Declines in crocodile populations could threaten these dependent relationships.
Threats and Conservation
Despite this unique symbiotic relationship, the Egyptian plover faces some conservation threats:
- Habitat loss from human activity
- Declines in crocodile populations
- Disturbance of nesting areas
- Pollution
- Climate change impacts
The Egyptian plover is considered a species of Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. But protecting its wetland habitats and crocodile populations is still crucial for long-term conservation. Further research into the fascinating crocodile-bird symbiosis could reveal new insights into interspecies interactions and specialized ecological relationships.
Odd Bird Behavior
The Egyptian plover’s behavior of hopping into a crocodile’s mouth to clean its teeth seems extremely odd and dangerous:
- Birds walking into a predator’s mouth is very unusual
- Highly dangerous action that could result in death
- Plover shows complete lack of fear around crocs
- Unclear how this behavior first developed
- May have evolved gradually over time
- Passed on through generations by learning
This dangerous cleaning symbiosis seems counter to normal predator-prey relationships. But the plover shows no hesitation around the crocodile, suggesting an innate biological knowledge that the croc will not harm it.
The origins of this unusual alliance remain murky. Perhaps a hungry Egyptian plover ventured into a crocodile’s mouth generations ago and the croc didn’t snap. This set the stage for regular cleaning routines benefiting both birds and crocodiles.
This demonstrates how wild animals can develop surprising symbiotic solutions and learned behaviors that defy human assumptions about predator-prey relationships in nature.
Legends and Folklore
The strange relationship between the Egyptian plover and the crocodile has spawned many legends and folk tales:
- Ancient Egyptians viewed plover as the “Friend of the Crocodile”
- Some African peoples believed plover had magic powers
- Myths that plover charmed and tamed crocodiles
- Symbol of caring for family in Egyptian culture
- Represents Concept of symbiosis in folklore
The plover’s willingness to hop into a crocodile’s jaws without fear added an air of supernatural mysticism in local folklore. Ancient Egyptian tomb artwork depicts the birds with crocodiles as a sign of the afterlife.
Modern African fables tell of how the plover’s magic calms crocodiles as the bird removes debris from their teeth. These legends emphasize the idea that even natural enemies can form friendships and symbiotic bonds.
While ecologists now understand the tooth cleaning behavior has biological roots, the enduring cultural legends speak to the power of animal symbiosis to spark creative imagination in human societies.
Conclusion
The Egyptian plover’s symbiotic relationship with the Nile crocodile is truly one of the most unique interspecies partnerships in the natural world. This odd bird has evolved to hop into the mouths of dangerous crocodiles to pick out parasites and food scraps with no harm. The crocodile tolerates this, gaining dental hygiene benefits.
This mutualistic alliance allows both species to thrive together in their watery habitats across sub-Saharan Africa. It sets a powerful example of how cooperation and cleaning symbiosis is possible even between predator and prey species. And the quirky crocodile bird continues to inspire legends, folklore, and appreciation of nature’s boundless ability to foster diversity and mutually beneficial relationships.
