Costa Rica is an amazing place to visit if you love animals. There are over 500,000 species, which represents almost 4% of the total worldwide species. That is a lot of biodiversity!!! As we spend our time living in Costa Rica I’m going to try to capture as many pictures of these beautiful creatures as possible!
All of the following photos were taken by me with my Google Pixel 3 phone! I can’t believe how far phones have come!
Because Costa Rica is a biodiversity hot spot, the National System of Conservation Areas (SINAC) protects over 25% of its national territory.
When I first moved here I was frustrated by how much of the country is “off limits”, but now I’m so grateful for how much land is protected! It is one of the reasons this country has so much diversity!
Costa Rican animals are COLORFUL and they truly are everywhere here! Some of the best places to see these animals are Manuel Antonio National Park, Cahuita National Park, Corcovado National Park, and La Paz Gardens.
There is so much to know about each of these incredible creatures but I’m just including just a few fun facts about each!
Amphibians
85% of Costa Rican Amphibians are frogs. Did you know frogs have a crazy ability to find fishless water so they can lay their eggs in it? There are some pretty crazy frogs here, including the Giant Toad which is known to eat almost anything, including small mammals!
- Fossils show that red-eyed tree frogs specifically emerged roughly 10 million years ago.
- They close their eyes when they eat. Their tiny teeth hold the insect in place and they retract their eyes into their body to push the meal down their throat.
- It takes a red-eyed tree frog 1-2 years to reach maturity, depending on how much they eat.
- They are experts at hiding.
- Night time is the best time to spot them.
- The toxic in its skin comes from its prey, especially the ants it eats.
- They do not have webbing between their toes, so they are poor swimmers and not usually in water.
- The toxins from these frogs are used by some South American Indians for hunting on their darts and animals.
- These frogs were brought to Hawaii in 1932 to help control the insect population.
- They can live over 10 years in captivity.
- These frogs stand out because of their bright black and yellow markings on their belly and legs.
- Females are larger than the males.
- Found all over Central America.
- Mating season is during the rain.
- They live scattered atop trees.
Reptiles
Crocodiles, Turtles, and Lizards/Snakes. Did you know that snakes make up one half of the reptile population in Costa Rica? The snakes come out a lot at night which is CAHREEEPPPYYYY if you are in the jungle when the sun sets.
There are about 135 snake species, though only 18 are known to be poisonous. The most common found is boas. The most common reptile found in the forests is iguanas.
- Vine snakes are obiparous, which means they produce live young.
- Camoflouge, venom and neck inflation all contribute to its hunting and protection.
- It has binocular like vision due to the shape of its head.
- Its habitat is mangrove swamp.
- Died of lizards, birds, frogs, mammals and insects.
- Adult makes can reach up to 1.5 meters.
- It can weigh over 10 lbs.
- These animals are herbivores, although some will eat eggs, fish and birds.
- They can run 22 mph.
- They spend a lot of time in the sun relaxing.
- Larger and very fast-moving
- Very shy and harmless. Not aggressive.
- The body has no pattern.
Marine Animals
- As the hermit crab grows it has to find a larger shell and abandon the previous one.
- Hermit crabs live about 7 years in the wild.
- Hermit crabs reproductive organs are just below the heart on males.
- Its relatives are the lobster and spider.
- Land hermit crabs require land to stay alive and will die if they are in the water for too long.
Mammals
Of the 4,800 mammal species found worldwide, 200 can be found in Costa Rica. So cool!! Early morning is the best time to find these creatures. Try to remain quiet as you walk along!
- White faced capuchin are native to the forests of Central America and the NW part of South America.
- Capuchins are considered one of the smartest monkeys so many have been used to help out paraplegics in their daily lives!
- They live in groups of 20 or more and disperse seeds from the berries and fruits they eat.
- They can live for over 50 years. One of the longest living species of monkey in the world!
- I took a picture of these monkeys at Manuel Antonio after they stole our bananas and ran up into the trees to fight over them!
- Same species as the ones in North America.
- Found near beaches, rivers are wherever humas live!
- They can open cupboards and fridges!
- They are scavengers. Watch out!
- There are six sloth species in the world and two types of sloths: two-toed and three- toed. Two of the six species live in Costa Rica. Sloths are a favorite for tourists and on many tours guides will be able to point them out. They know exactly where to look!
- The fur is actually an entire ecosystem of algae, fungi, moths, mites and other crazy stuff. Everything is kind of a symbiotic relationship with the sloth and it gives their fur a green tint that keeps them from predators.
- Their predators are wildcats and eagles but they are very hard to spot, so they really are not killed often.
- Sloths have the slowest digestion system of any mammal. They can last off of the same meal for 2 weeks! They do less so they don’t have to eat more!
- Sloths can spend up to 20 hours a day sleeping.
- This is one of the 6 species of wild cat in Central America.
- More threatened than the Ocelot, Puma, and Jaguar.
- Exclusively arboreal (live in trees). This makes them incredibely difficuly for scientists to study in their natural habitat.
- They can weigh up to 20 lbs.
- Listed as “Near Threatened”
- Cows are found all over the side of the road in Costa Rica!
- The Spanish name for cow is vaca [baca].
- Brahman is a breed of cattle that was first bred in the US from cattle breeds imported from India.
Insects and Spiders
THERE ARE SO MANY INSECTS IN COSTA RICA! We have had to just get used to our apartment being filled with insects at all times. There are over 4,000 species. 14 different species of scorpions live in Costa Rica, though mostly they just hurt when they sting you. Mosquitoes, butterflies, cockroaches, and leaf-cutter ants are all very popular.
- Very commonly spotted all over Costa Rica.
- Host plant: Reullia, Blechum.
- Total life span is 98 days (15 as an egg, 40 as caterpillar, 22 as chrysalis, 21 days as a butterfly)
- This specific scorpion was in Dan’s pants for EIGHT HOURS one day! We thought he just had a biting ant in his pants but after a long day of being out all day (and getting “stung” multiple times) he took his pants off when we got home and this guy had been in his pants ALL DAY! We freaked out but soon found out that if Dan didn’t have an allergic reaction he would be okay.
- Costa Rican Scorpions are pretty much the same thing as a bee sting. You only have problems if you are allergic.
- Scorpions like to hide in dark places like bed sheets, shoes, and clothing.
- The body ends with a long tail that terminates in a stinger.
- In Central America alone, there are over 400 species of scorpions.
- Scorpions will eat other scorpions and can survive for months without water.
- These crazy ants live in colonies of up to 5 million members.
- Using leaves cut from trees, the ants make a fungus from which they feed. They have been doing this for at least 23 million years. Neither the ants or the fungus can survive without the other.
- Leaf-cutter ants live in a sort of caste system where each member has a specific task. Soldier ants are the largest ones and protect the ants from predators.
- Queens are the only fertile female ants in any colony. Their sole job is reproduction.
- Most commonly found species of morpho in Central America.
- Flies in a zig-zag pattern.
- Lifespan is 119-127 dags.
- Often found in coffee plantations.
- The pattern on the front of its wings looks like owl eyes for protection!
Birds
Costa Rica has 850 species of birds, which is 10% of the world’s bird population!
- Nocturnal and most active at night.
- Omnivore, eating mostly seeds, grass, corn, rice, wheat, insects, spiders and snails.
- Males compete for attention of females by chasing each other with stretched necks.
- Nest in the cavities of trees.
- They can have very beautiful gray feathers on their faces. Male and females look alike.
- These birds have strong weeds and loud boisterous calls. They are usually quietest while feeding.
- One of the most intelligent bird species. When in captivity, they are able to mimic words and sounds and learn tricks.
- They are said to have the intelligence of a 4-8 year old child with the emotional intelligence of a 2 year old. This means they can throw temper tantrums! I find this SO cool! So this animal is Beckham’s spirit animal haha.
- Scarlet Macaws often outlive humans. They can live up to 80 years in captivity (only 40-50 in the wild).
- These birds have extremely strong beaks and can easily crush nuts and seeds. It also uses its beak to climb and chew on branches for fun.
- Costa Rica has the six American species of kingfisher.
- The female lays between three and six white eggs.
- They are often seen perched on a low shaded branch before plunging into the water after a fish.
- Males have white underparts, while females have two green chest bands.
- Instead of a high pitch chirp it has a croak like a frog!
- There are 6 species of toucans in Costa Rica. The Keel Billed Toucan is mostly found on the Carribean side, in Guanacaste, Monteverde, and Arenal. Any place with a higher elevation.
- They live in tree cavities that have hollowed out from decay.
People eat a lot of chicken in Costa Rica. I found this guy on my run one morning just boppin’ through the streets haha.
- The biggest of the 6 toucans in Costa Rica.
- Known as “the bullies” because they are bigger than others and will fight other birds for food and territory.
- Also known as the Chestnut Toucan.
- The call is a yelping, described as Dios te de (God give you).
- Is found in middle elevations but may descend lower in the wet season.
- Mainly silent but may sometimes give a quit chirp.
- Their legs are so small and weak they can hardly walk at all.
- Feeds with tail cocked at nearly right angles to the body.
- Can beat its wings 50 times per second! It almost never stops moving and spends almost its time in the air.