Turtles don’t have any “outer ear” — the part that sticks out from your head, but they have all the “inner ear” mechanisms that other animals do. They also have the auditory nerve and brain center required for hearing. The outer ear gathers sound vibrations to make them louder. So turtles do not hear airborne sounds as loudly as you do, but they can sense and interpret vibrations in the environment. Hearing probably isn’t very important to a turtle though, because their senses of vision and smell are excellent. The brain center for hearing is quite small by comparison.
Do butterflies drink the tears of turtles?
Lachryphagy is a fascinating evolutionary adaptation by insects to get the nutrients they require. It is remarkable to see how unlikely organisms can be interlinked, such as turtles and butterflies, and serves as a reminder that all organisms should be protected, as there are bound to be others that rely upon them to thrive.