What is symbiote definition?

Symbiote refers to a type of organism that mutually benefits from a close association or interaction with another organism, known as the host. The symbiote and the host depend on each other for survival and both may provide some benefits to each other. Symbiosis is a widespread phenomenon found in several forms in nature, including mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. Some common examples of symbiotes are lichens, which are the association of fungi and photosynthetic algae, and bacteria in the human gut that help in digestion. In popular culture, symbiotes are also often associated with extraterrestrial beings with supernatural or superhuman abilities.