Commensal (Adjective)
Meaning
Living in a state of commensalism.
Classification
Relational adjectives (pertainyms).
Examples
- The clownfish lives in a commensal relationship with the sea anemone, receiving protection from predators in exchange for cleaning up leftover food particles.
- The oxpeckers are commensal birds that land on the backs of rhinoceroses and eat ticks and other parasites that live on the rhino's skin.
- The remora fish has a commensal relationship with sharks, attaching itself to the shark's body and feeding on leftover food particles and parasites.
- The orchids that grow on the branches of trees in the rainforest have a commensal relationship with their hosts, receiving support and nutrients without harming the trees.
- The barnacles that attach themselves to the shells of turtles are commensal organisms, using the turtle as a mobile home and feeding on plankton and small crustaceans in the surrounding water.