A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Project Noah Nature School
Podocnemis unifilis
They measure 35 cm long and weigh about 6 kg. Males are smaller than females and have a narrower carapace and longer and bushy tail. The puppies and young people have yellow spots on the head. Adult females have an ontogenetic, yellow colored head that becomes brown rust with age. Butterflies are seen licking the eyes of turtles because sodium is essential for life, but in an environment far from the sea as the western Amazon, is extremely rare. Carnivorous animals can get sodium from the meat of other animals, herbivores suffer but to achieve this and other necessary minerals. Tears are one of the salt sources available to butterflies. These turtles eliminate the body of excess salt through the tears. In addition to this option, the insects can search for mud banks of rivers, ponds and clothing sweaty people.
They live in a variety of habitats such as, large rivers, lakes, meandering lakes, marshes, swamps and lagoons in the Amazon region. They occur in three types of Amazonian rivers, white water river, river clear water and black water river.
Photos by Nikon Camera D750 - Lens Sigma 50-500mm
Spotted on Jul 13, 2015
Submitted on Jul 13, 2015
4 Comments
Great info and pictures!
Amazing photos! I've heard that butterflies would plague the poor turtles for their tears and your pictures are incredible!
What shots! The fragile butterflies and the armoured reptiles :)
E também gostam de se enfeitar... Beleza de fotos, Cassio, parabéns.