When he flaunted nature’s version of the butterfly crown filter in these perfectly timed snaps, this caiman made social media followers green with envy.
The reptile couldn’t help but smile as he sunbathed on the bank of the Los Amigos River in south-eastern Peru, surrounded by a kaleidoscope of colorful butterflies.
He tilted his head in a classic selfie pose in one shot, but he didn’t need the help of the popular butterfly Snapchat filter that has been sweeping the internet.
Mark Cowan, an Australian research scientist, took the stunning photographs while on a trip with his colleagues from Michigan State University.
He denied that the images were Photoshopped, claiming that many of his colleagues witnessed the incident.
‘While I am a keen wildlife photographer when I have the time, it is primarily for personal enjoyment,’ the 55-year-old ecologist explained.
‘My colleagues knew the shot was real because they saw the caiman, but many others thought it was photoshopped!
‘My camera wasn’t the best on the market, but it still took an impressive photograph.’
‘I certainly hope to return to the same area in the future.’
The New Scientist previously reported that when salts and minerals are scarce, bees and butterflies will feed on protein-rich crocodile tears.
Caimans are a species of reptile related to alligators and crocodiles.
There are six caiman species found in Puerto Rico, Cuba, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Columbia, and French Guyana.
Caimans can be found in swamps, flooded savannas, mangroves, and slow-moving rivers and lakes.
Due to habitat loss and poaching, almost all caiman species are threatened.
Depending on the species, they can grow to be 5ft to 20ft long and weigh between 220 and 1100lbs.
Leave a Reply