Question 1: This yellow-spotted river turtle is hanging with a butterfly in which South American river basin?
- The Amazon
- The Galápagos
- South Mississippi
Answer: The Amazon
Fact: Specifically, our shelled friend resides in the Ecuadorian Amazon, one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth—and, intriguingly, a place where butterflies are known to swarm turtles.
Question 2: What is that butterfly licking off the turtle’s face?
- Salt
- Frosting from the Turtle Day cake
- Pollen
Answer: Salt
Fact: Some butterflies do not feed at all, while others drink nectar from flowers. Still others, like the Julia butterfly shown in this photo, seek out salts and other mineral compounds—sometimes even landing on a turtle’s face to lick the salty deposits from its skin.
Question 3: What differentiates turtles from tortoises?
- Size
- Habitat
- Teeth
Answer: Habitat
Fact: Tortoises are exclusively land-dwelling creatures, thriving in a wide range of environments, from arid deserts to lush tropical forests. In contrast to turtles, which typically come onto land only to lay eggs, tortoises engage with water solely for drinking or occasional bathing. It’s important to note that not all land-dwelling turtles are tortoises—species like box turtles and wood turtles were once incorrectly classified as tortoises but are now recognized as distinct.