The Plant That Trains Ant Bodyguards
Okay, this one’s technically not an animal, but the mutualism is so sneaky it deserves a slot. The bullhorn acacia tree grows hollow thorns that serve as homes for aggressive ants. In exchange for room and free nectar meals, the ants fiercely protect the tree from herbivores and even other plants trying to crowd it.
The ants attack anything that brushes the leaves—including human hands. This relationship is so tightly evolved that the tree essentially raises a private militia. By outsourcing defense, it turns cooperation into a defense contract, rooted in survival strategy.
Advertisements
Advertisements
Advertisements