Symbiosis
Mutualism,
Picture Relationship
The hermit crab will find an empty
snail shell and occupy it. If it
outgrows it, it will find another.
Pilot fish usually swim near sharks or
whales . They feel protected and get
the benefit of eating leftovers from
the sharks' meals.
Sea anemones have stinging
tentacles. Clownfish are not harmed
by the tentacles but live among the
tentacles. The clownfish gets food
when other fish are torn up by the
tentacles. The sea anemone is
protected from predators that the
clownfish chases away.
Questions to Consider Commensalism or
Parasitism?
• Does the crab help the
snail?
• Does the crab hurt the
snail?
• Does the snail know the
crab has its shell?
• Does the pilot fish help the
shark?
• Does the pilot fish hurt the
shark?
• Does the shark even know
the pilot fish is there?
• Does the clownfish help the
anemone?
• Does the anemone help the
clownfish?
• Do they hurt each other?
 Mutualism,
Questions to
Picture Relationship Commensalism or
Consider
Parasitism?
Ticks attach to the skin of • Does the tick help the
dogs and other furry dog?
creatures and suck blood. They • Does the tick hurt
drop off to digest the meal the dog?
and later find another host to • Does the dog know
attach to. the tick is there?

Barnacles attach themselves • Do the barnacles help

to whales and ride along, the whales?
gathering food with their • Do the barnacles hurt
tentacles. They do not harm the whales?
the whales. • Does the whales know
the barnacles are
there?

Mistletoe, a green sprig, grows • Does the mistletoe

on oak trees. It will obtain help the tree?
support and food from the • Does the mistletoe
tree. Trees with lots of hurt the tree?
mistletoe growing on them are • Does the tree know
often weakened by the the mistletoe is
mistletoe. there?