Bullvines and Suricaretakers - Symbiotic relationship

A species that feeds through a symbiotic relationship.

---

Bullvines

  Bullvines are large bovines that roam Var Nexa, usually found in and around the Western Carveck Rockscape. They stand 3-5 meters tall, with dark grey skin that feels like rock. They have large, scoop shaped horns that protrude forwards from the top of their heads. Their backs have an indent that dips 0.5 - 1 meter down. This dip is empty when young, but as the Bulls grow dust and sand gets trapped in their backs, eventually gathering enough to fill the dip, turning it into a sand pit.   As the Bulls travel, they seek out plants, water and soil. They will often investigate these, pawing and sniffing what they find for hours. If they deem it satisfactory, they'll dig their scoop like horns into their findings, and fling it up and backwards. This launches the material into their pits, filling them. Strong plants and seeds will take root, embedding themselves in the sand pit and growing over time.   This results in each Bull developing a different pattern of soil and plants, each unique to itself.   The Bulls will then use this to attract a mate. While large gatherings are rare, the easiest way to find males in large numbers is to find a female and follow her till a bachelor group gathers.   Once gathered, the bachelor group competes. Whoever has the grandest garden on its back, with the most luscious plants, largest grasses or strongest trees, will impress the female.   This gives an advantage to elder males, who've had longer to develop well planted gardens. This is, it is believed, what led to younger males seeking a way to gain advantage over their elder rivals by finding a curious ally. The Gardening Meerkat (Suricaretakers).  

---

 

Suricaretakers - The Gardening Meerkat

Suricaretakers, commonly called the Gardening Meerkat, are a species that live on and in the Bullvine's back pit. These creatures tend to the Bull's garden. They eat any weeds that grow, preventing them from effecting the grander species, as well as overgrowing plants. The Meerkats are essentially care takers of the Bull's garden. This ensures there is no wasted energy, and gardens grow more efficiently. Due to their care for the Bull's garden, the Meerkat will often encourage the plants to grow towards the Bull's head, giving the Bulls easier access to consistent food.   As the Suricaretakers burrow in the sand pit they twist around the roots of established plants. This creates a string of tunnels that run through the pits. Any rain, or water thrown up by the bull, travels down these tunnels and directly to the plants roots, further helping growth.   In exchange, the Suricaretakers gain a roaming home. The Bullvine, with its bulk, protects them from predators, provides a consistent food source, and allows greater travel for its passengers.  

---

 

Suricaretaker Courtship Behaviours

The Gardening Meerkat has a reproductive cycle that aligns with the Bullvine's. This means that when the Bulls gather to pursue a female, and are in close proximity, exchanges can occur. The Meerkat wait for the Bulls to move in close to another, then leap across. This mass mixing allows gene pools to diversify.   The groups (called Mobs) follow a dominance hierarchy, with the oldest female typically taking charge. As such these exchanges take three forms.   Typically young individuals will that play subordinate roles will mix with other mobs. Males, if accepted, will join a new mob. Females will search for available males to form a mob with.   Older Bullvines will already have established mobs, but younger ones will be lacking. These youths are often sought by young male Meerkats, who claim them in hopes of attracting females to create a Mob with. When successful, the new pair will reproduce and allow a new mob will grow.   Males that don't find a female to mob with by the end of a season often form bachelor groups, that will either stay on a claimed Bull, or dismount and survive in roaming mobs of only males till the following season.

---