Cookiecutter shark

The cookiecutter shark (Isistius brasiliensis), also called the cigar shark, is a species of small
squaliform shark in the family Dalatiidae. This shark occurs in warm, oceanic waters worldwide,
particularly near islands, and has been recorded as deep as 3.7 km (2.3 mi). It migrates vertically up
to 3 km (1.9 mi) every day, approaching the surface at dusk and descending with the dawn.

Parasitic behaviour :

The cookiecutter shark is considered a facultative ectoparasite, meaning it feeds off larger animals,
without killing them.The name "cookiecutter shark" refers to its feeding habit of gouging round
plugs, as if cut out with a cookie cutter, out of larger animals.

The cookiecutter shark exhibits a number of specializations to its mouth and pharynx for its
parasitic lifestyle. When a would-be predator approaches the lure, the shark attaches itself using its
suctorial lips and specialized pharynx. Then secures itself to the body surface of its prey by closing
its spiracles and retracting its basihyal (tongue) to create pressure lower than that of the
surroundings; its suctorial lips ensure a tight seal. It then bites, using its narrow upper teeth as
anchors while its razor sharp lower teeth slice into the prey. Finally, the shark twists and rotates its
body to complete a circular cut, quite possibly aided by the initial forward momentum and
subsequent struggles of its prey.The action of the lower teeth may also be assisted by back-and-forth
vibrations of the jaw. This species has been known to travel in schools.

Like all sharks, cookiecutter sharks lose several sets of teeth throughout their lifetimes. This process
ensures that they always have sharp, healthy teeth capable of feeding by their preferred strategy.
Unlike other species, though, cookiecutter sharks apparently purposely swallow the teeth that they
lose. Some scientists believe that to be a result of them living in the nutrient-poor deep water
column. By swallowing the relatively large teeth, they may be able to recycle the calcium and other
materials important in tooth development.

Effect on host :

Marks made by cookiecutter sharks have been found on a wide variety of marine mammals and
fishes, as well as on submarines, undersea cables, and even human bodies. It also consumes whole
smaller prey such as squid. Several species – including bluefin tuna, great white sharks, spinner
dolphins, and other large predators – have been observed with one or more scars caused by these
sharks. Diseased or otherwise weakened animals appear to be more susceptible, and in the western
Atlantic observations have been made of emaciated beached melon-headed whales with dozens to
hundreds of recent and healing cookiecutter shark wounds, while such wounds are rare on
nonemaciated beached whales.
The Hood Mocking bird :

The Hood Mocking bird is endemic to the Galapagos Islands and occurs only on Espanola and
Gardner Islands. It is larger than other species. Fearless of humans, it may land on their head or
some object, often searching for food and drink. This species lives in groups of 8-10 birds,
sometimes up to 40 individuals. They are territorial, with an established hierarchy within the group.

Feeding habits :

The Hood Mockingbird is omnivorous. The varied diet includes insects, fruits and berries, marine
arthropods and small vertebrates. It also feeds on carrion at carcasses of seabirds, lizards and marine
mammals. It consumes damaged seabird eggs, but it is also able to open others, thanks to its
powerful bill.

Parasitic behaviour : The Hood Mockingbird has developed some peculiar feeding behaviour,
especially in dry season: it drinks blood from wounds on living sea lions, from sea lion placentas,
on marine iguanas and nestling boobies (Sulidae), by frequenting the hunting areas of the
Galapagos Hawk. It removes the ticks and some pieces of dead skin from iguanas, involving
sometimes the creation of small wounds from which it drinks the blood.
The Hood Mockingbird has larger and more decurved bill than other Mimidae species, allowing the
bird to perform this type of feeding behaviour.

Vampire bat :

The common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) is a small, leaf-nosed bat native to Latin America.
It is one of three extant species of vampire bat, the other two being the hairy-legged and the white-
winged vampire bats. The common vampire bat practices hematophagy, mainly feeding on the
blood of livestock.

Parasitic behaviour :

The common vampire bat feeds primarily on mammalian blood, particularly that of livestock such
as cattle and horses.Vampire bats feed on wild prey like the tapir, but seem to prefer domesticated
animals, and favor horses over cattle when given the choice. Female animals, particularly those in
estrus, are more often targeted than males. This could be because of the hormones. Vampire bats
hunt at night, using echolocation and olfaction to track down prey.They feed in a distance of 5 to 8
km (3.1 to 5.0 mi) from their roosts. When a bat selects a target, it lands on it, or jumps up onto it
from the ground, usually targeting the rump, flank, or neck of its prey,heat sensors in the nose help
it to detect blood vessels near the surface of the skin. It pierces the animal's skin with its teeth,
biting away a small flap,and laps up the blood with its tongue, which has lateral grooves adapted to
this purpose.The blood is kept from clotting by an anticoagulant in the saliva.

Effect on host :
Sleeping cattle and horses are their usual victims, but they have been known to feed on people as
well. The bats drink their victim's blood for about 30 minutes. They are protective of their host and
will fend off other bats while feeding. It is uncommon for two or more bats to feed on the same
host, with the exception of mothers and their offspring.They don't remove enough blood to harm
their host, but their bites can cause nasty infections and disease.