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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsAmazonian Butterflies Drink Turtle Tears
The sight of butterflies flocking onto the heads of yellow-spotted river turtles in the western Amazon rain forest is not uncommon, at least if one is able to sneak up on the skittish reptiles. But the reason why butterflies congregate onto the turtles may be stranger than you think: to drink their tears.
The butterflies are likely attracted to the turtles' tears because the liquid drops contain salt, specifically sodium, an important mineral that is scant in the western Amazon, said Phil Torres, a scientist who does much of his research at the Tambopata Research Center in Peru and is associated with Rice University.
Unlike butterflies, turtles get plenty of sodium through their largely carnivorous diet. Meat contains significant levels of the salt, Torres told LiveScience. But herbivores sometimes struggle to get enough sodium and other minerals, he added. "They end up needing this extra mineral source," he said.
http://news.discovery.com/animals/insects/amazonian-butterflies-drink-turtle-tears-130912.htm
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)in November 2014.
cali
(114,904 posts)did you check out the pic thought? really beautiful.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)racing to bet Randome in posting the Turtle Tear pic.
Good thing I did, too
randome
(34,845 posts)I'll have to content myself with 2nd best.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]You should never stop having childhood dreams.[/center][/font][hr]
whatchamacallit
(15,558 posts)DJ13
(23,671 posts)Solly Mack
(90,758 posts)In_The_Wind
(72,300 posts)snooper2
(30,151 posts)Brickbat
(19,339 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)CK_John
(10,005 posts)randome
(34,845 posts)[hr][font color="blue"][center]You should never stop having childhood dreams.[/center][/font][hr]
KurtNYC
(14,549 posts)Does it every time...
pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)pinboy3niner
(53,339 posts)surrealAmerican
(11,357 posts)k & r
nolabear
(41,932 posts)KamaAina
(78,249 posts)presumably made with Brazilian cachaca, which is now widely available here thanks to the popularity of caipirinhas.
dionysus
(26,467 posts)sigh
Uncle Joe
(58,284 posts)that would make a good D.U. handle for someone.
Thanks for the thread, cali.