Do Birds Clean Crocodile Teeth

What Animal Cleans the Within of an Alligator'due south Mouth?

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The alligator has no bird friend. You're thinking of the crocodile, whose pal the plover helps keep the grinning of a crocodile clean. The plovers aren't suicidal. The truth is, the relationship between the crocodile bird and the crocodile is symbiotic; each getting a benefit from being strange bedfellows.

Egyptian Plover

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The bird widely known every bit the "crocodile bird" is correctly called an Egyptian plover, or Pluvianus aegyptius. Information technology lives in parts of Africa, ofttimes around tropical rivers and human activity. This tiny bird grows to near 7 to 8 inches long and weighs less than three ounces. You might think the little bird is either brave or stupid. Just there'south a method to what appears to be madness. The plover routinely sticks his head in a croc'south oral fissure and lives to tell the tale.

Crocodile Epicurean Habits

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So why do these little plovers do information technology? Why and so glib nigh their health and safety? The crocodile bird, despite the fact that it acts like a dental hygienist, is just enjoying a practiced meal. After the crocodile eats a large animal, such as an unabridged cow, he suns himself on the banks of the river with his mouth open. Crocs consume their prey whole, but bits of meat gets stuck between their teeth anyway, and they tin can't very well floss.

Enter the Plover

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Crocodiles cannot sweat through their skin like humans can, or through their paws like dogs. To dissipate rut, they relish on the banks with their mouths open. The plover comes forth and, using his sharp little beak like a toothpick, removes the bits of meat from between the crocodile'southward teeth. This feeds the plover and removes parasites from the croc's oral cavity.

Plover Panic

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The plover serves as a security warning arrangement for the crocodile. If, while in the croc'south mouth, the plover senses danger from an oncoming animal, she screams and flies abroad. This behavior alerts the crocodile to the imminent danger, and so he can slide into the water and out of damage's way every bit well. In this way, the plover keeps her source of free food safe for future utilise -- a service the croc, no dubiousness, appreciates regardless of the motive.

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