14 DAY TRIAL // Wildlife researchers explain that, because their usual diet does not provide them with enough sodium, butterflies living in the Amazon sometimes turn to turtles to up their intake of this compound.
More precisely, they gather around whatever river turtles they can find and drink their tears. This odd behavior is documented in the picture above.
Live Science explains that, because they eat meat on a regular basis, turtles have plenty of sodium in their bodies. Luckily for the butterflies, they aren't opposed to the idea of sharing.
According to the same source, it sometimes happens that butterflies turn to animal urine, muddy river banks, puddles and sweaty people that chance to cross their path for sodium.
Granted, such habits aren't as poetic as sipping an animal's tears, but as long as the butterflies get the sodium they need, not much else matters.