Photography Science

#butterflies #Ecuador #nature #turtles

A Pair of Butterflies Photographed While Sipping on Turtle Tears in Ecuador

August 10, 2015

Christopher Jobson

turtles-1

turtles-2

Apparently if you’re a thirsty butterfly, one option available to you is a refreshing sip of turtle tears. No, this isn’t a staged photo masquerading as science, it’s an unusual behavior known as lachryphagy (tear drinking), and is one of several ways butterflies obtain moisture and nutrients. Captured here by Ama la Vida TV, this photo shows two Dryas iulia drinking tears from the eyes of a few turtles. The photo won the 2014 Wikimedia Picture of the Year. (via Laughing Squid, Twisted Sifter)

#butterflies #Ecuador #nature #turtles

 

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