Observation of a black‐cheeked waxbill (Brunhilda charmosyna) cleaning a Kirk’s dik‐dik (Madoqua kirkii)

The vast majority of interspecific interactions are competitive or exploitative. Yet, some positive interspecies interactions exist, where one (commensalism) or both (mutualism) species benefit. One such interaction is cleaning mutualisms, whereby a cleaner removes parasites from a client. In this n...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ecology and evolution 2022-02, Vol.12 (2), p.e8506-n/a
Main Authors: Nyaguthii, Brendah, Njoroge, Peter, Farine, Damien R.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Behavioural Ecology
Birds
Cleaning
cleaning mutualism
Commensalism
Insects
interspecific interactions
Interspecific relationships
Madoqua kirkii
Mutualism
Nature Notes
Parasites
Research facilities
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Summary:The vast majority of interspecific interactions are competitive or exploitative. Yet, some positive interspecies interactions exist, where one (commensalism) or both (mutualism) species benefit. One such interaction is cleaning mutualisms, whereby a cleaner removes parasites from a client. In this note, we document the novel observation of a black‐cheeked waxbill (Brunhilda charmosyna) appearing to clean a Kirk's dik‐dik (Madoqua kirkii), at the Mpala Research Centre in Laikipia County, Kenya. The purported cleaning took place for over one minute and is notable firstly for the dik‐dik remaining still for the duration of cleaning and secondly for involving two species that are much smaller than those traditionally involved in bird–mammal cleaning interactions. Unfortunately, no further cleaning events were subsequently observed, raising questions about whether this record was opportunistic or a regular occurrence. Future observations may reveal whether this behavior is widespread and whether it involves other small passerines. A novel observation of a cleaning interaction between a black‐cheeked waxbill (Brunhilda charmosyna) and a Kirk's dik‐dik (Madoqua kirkii), in Laikipia County, Kenya.
ISSN:2045-7758
2045-7758
DOI:10.1002/ece3.8506