Why South American butterflies drink the tears of turtles

In the tropical forests of the Western Amazon you can see an amazing sight: sitting on the heads of turtles butterflies drink the tears from their eyes. Insects thus making up for the lack of minerals in your body.

"Darlings" of butterflies have yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis). This is a fairly large (up to 45 centimeters and weight up to 8 kilograms) reptiles are omnivores: they eat both plants, and insects, molluscs, crustaceans and other small animals. The life expectancy of river turtles reaches 60-70 years.

The relationship of turtles and butterflies explained Phil Torres from the research center in Tambopata national Park. According to him, in this region the animals do not have enough mineral and macronutrient primarily of salt, as all private water in the tropical forests fresh.




At that time, as carnivorous animals get amino acids, sodium and other minerals and elements through animal foods – vegetarians, which include butterflies, deprived of this opportunity, which encourages them to look for additional source of "vitamins." In nature this phenomenon is quite common: for example, some parrots lick the clay, and monkeys eat the earth. However, the filling shortage of minerals due to the tear fluid of another animal is not found anywhere except the Amazon.

While turtle tears eat not only local butterflies, but also bees. However, the last turtles to create some problems, try animals and insects to lose. According to Phil Torres, this may be caused by an annoying turtle with buzzing bees. But butterflies reptiles do not interfere; the only negative aspect is that at the time of supply of the insects block the view and the turtles can easily get the predator.

   

Source: eco-mir.org/ru/node/3803