When a blazing orange butterfly with wings outlined in jet black gently lands on the head of a sunning turtle, it is for one reason. He is slowly sipping the tears from its eyes. The turtle extends his aged neck out as if he’s expecting the butterflies.
It seems like a story from a children’s fairytale, but it is a scientific event called “lachryphagy” (tear drinking). It’s a practice that butterflies have to take part in to allow them to obtain important nutrients and moisture.
This incredible occurrence is common in nature and yet absolutely astonishing to the human eye. It was captured on camera in Ecuador by Ama la Vida TV and the photo won the Wikimedia Picture of the Year Award in 2014.
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