Perfectly Timed Photograph Shows Caiman Wearing Butterfly Crown

During a trip through the Amazon to study reptile and amphibian diversity with a team of herpetologists from the University of Michigan, photographer Mark Cowan stumbled upon a rather surreal and unusual site – a caiman who’s head was almost completely covered in butterflies.

The butterflies were more than likely surrounding the caimans head because of the salt found in their tears, a tactic many other creatures use when the mineral is scarce in their area.

Nonetheless Cowan managed to capture a beautiful and quite surreal photo of the caiman giving him an intense side eye look as the butterflies dance around its head. The photo has since received a special commendation in the 2016 Royal Society Publishing.

Mark Cowan
Mark Cowan

h/t Colossal

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