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In order to get their dose of sodium, butterflies in the Amazon rainforest turn to crying turtles. Scientist Phil Torres points out that while turtles get plenty of salt from their carnivorous diet, butterflies (and most herbivores) have a harder time finding the important mineral, especially in the west Amazon rainforest where there is very little salt at all. Their solution lies, in part, in the damp edges of turtle eyes. Torres wants to study the behavior more to find out if there are other minerals in the moisture that the insects are after. -- Jaymi Heimbuch, http://www.treehugger.com/

When swimming in salty seas, a marine animal with land ancestry runs the risk of dehydration because its body fluids are much less salty than the surrounding water. Sea turtles have large tear glands that concentrate salt and shed it in huge, salty tears. "If such glands are not present," says Hirayama, "the turtles could not thrive in a marine environment."

more at http://discovermagazine.com/1998/aug/turtletears1502#.UlZIoVNi2KE

such artistic images. 

just curious...

One question that arises: Does the butterfly feeding help, hurt or have no impact on the turtles? Torres said it's not completely clear, but the teary endeavor probably has little impact on the turtles, other than perhaps making them more vulnerable to predators like big cats, since the butterflies can obstruct their vision.

more at http://www.pawnation.com/2013/09/13/amazonian-butterflies-drink-turtle-tears

Quote from: islander on October 09, 2013, 10:39:35 PM

bwahaha! why are you crying Michelangelo? did someone take your pizza?