TheBonChicLife

Just about everyone likes to feel pretty sometimes, even this South American caiman and its impressively sassy side-eye. Photographer Mark Cowan, traveling the Amazon studying reptile and amphibian diversity, spotted this pretty caiman on the riverbank whose head was covered in lovely butterflies.

“The phenomenon itself isn’t particularly unusual, salt is critical to the survival of many creatures like butterflies and bees who sometimes drink tears from reptiles in regions where the mineral is scarce (we’ve seen the same thing happen with turtles). What made this sight so unusual was seeing the butterflies organize themselves into three different species groups atop the caiman’s head.”

This awesome photo received special commendation in the 2016 Royal Society Photography Competition. Click here to view all the finalists.