The post Hippos Get a Natural Spa Treatment From Helpful Barbel Fish appeared first on A-Z Animals.
Did you know that hippos have a sort of underwater spa that helps take care of them? Like other symbiotic relationships in nature, hippos have an unspoken deal with a fish called the barbel. They both benefit from this spa, helping the hippos stay healthy and clean. This video from BBC Earth shows this spa in action! Read here to learn more about this interesting relationship, and how both hippos and barbels benefit.
Barbs help keep hippos clean.
©BBC Earth / YouTube – Original
Nature’s Spa
Hippos, like any other animal, are susceptible to cuts and scratches. With male hippos being extremely territorial over space and mates, they often get in fights with each other, leading to injuries. Females also get injured, mainly from protecting their calves, which makes both sexes susceptible to infection. The scratches and cuts that litter their bodies can quickly become infected due to the warm, bacteria-rich waters of their habitats. Not only are these infections dangerous to the hippo’s health, but they also attract parasites to the open wounds. Without proper care, hippos can face serious health issues. This is where the barbels come in.
Sometimes referred to as “barbs,” several species of freshwater fish—including barbel fish (genus Barbus) and others—inhabit rivers and lakes throughout Africa, including those where hippos live. Barbel fish, which have whisker-like organs also called barbels, along with other species such as cichlids, feed on dead skin, parasites, and algae from hippos. This feeding behavior helps keep hippos clean and acts as a natural exfoliation process. These fish feed on dead skin, parasites, and algae, perfect for exfoliating a hippo. This unique combination results in hippos staying in the water, allowing the fish to give them a spa treatment. This is an example of mutualistic symbiosis, a relationship between two animals in nature where each party benefits. For the hippo, they can maintain good health by removing parasites and reducing the risk of infection. They also have unwanted algae and dead skin removed. For the fish, they have a reliable source of food, as well as a safe getaway from other large predators that avoid hippos.
Hippos are part of a delicate ecosystem.
©apple2499/Shutterstock.com
What Would Hippos Do Without Barbel Fish?
Without help from the barbel fish, not only would hippos face more health problems, but the entire ecosystem could be affected. The hippos will have increased rates of infection, as they cannot clean their wounds as easily. Not only hippos, but all of the aquatic animals will have to face the surge of parasites in the water. If hippo populations were to decline significantly in the future, the ecosystem could experience negative ripple effects, though current data suggests populations are stable. The fish population would decrease greatly without a consistent food source, meaning that the fish’s predators would also suffer.
The post Hippos Get a Natural Spa Treatment From Helpful Barbel Fish appeared first on A-Z Animals.
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