Posted on 02/26/2010 9:05:33 AM PST by JoeProBono
A warthog has been pictured being groomed by a huge bird known as a ground hornbill.
The warthog approached the southern ground hornbill seeking the favour, and the bird obliged by removing parasites from the warthog's body.
Similar interactions occur between warthogs and other animals such as banded mongooses.
But hornbills are not known to groom in this way, say scientists who photographed the incident.
Warthogs even tolerated the ground hornbills probing their ears and more delicate areas under their tails
Dr Hendri Coetzee North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa Details of the behaviour are reported in the African Journal of Ecology.
"The warthogs approached the hornbills and then lay down on their sides to be cleaned," explains Dr Hendri Coetzee of North West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa.
"The warthogs were very nervous, because this behaviour most probably makes them more vulnerable to predation."
(Excerpt) Read more at news.bbc.co.uk ...
You scratch my back I'll scratch yours?
“WHEN I WAS A YOUNG WART HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOG!”
sounds like pelosi and rangel
Good pickings off those hogs. Lots of lice.
You're not an Entomologist are you? ;-{)
Is this what the RINOS are trying to do with Obama when they sniff around under his tail?
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