Costa Rica: July 2008; **SEVERE DUW**

[DutchHerp]

Hey guys,

Last summer I was fortunate enough to visit the beautiful, herp rich country of Costa Rica. The small nation is home to around four hundred reptiles and amphibians, all spread throughout varying habitats. From mangroves to cloud forests to savanna, you can find it in Costa Rica.

I visited cloud forest, tropical wet rain forest, and coastal rain forests and mangroves. I spent 15 days there, and it was my first time herping in a rain forest.

Overall, I'm very pleased with the results I got as a first time herper in the jungle!

Enjoy!

First off, a beautiful shot my father got with a three minutes exposure of Volcan Arenal.





Rana vaillanti (Vaillant's Frog). Costa Rica: Heredia: La Selva Biological Station.



Agalychnis (Leaf Frog) sp. eggs. Costa Rica: Heredia: La Selva Biological Station.



Scaphiodonthophis annulatus (Shovel-toothed Snake). Costa Rica: Heredia: La Selva Biological Station.







Dendrobates pumilio (Strawberry / Bluejeans Poison Dart Frog). Costa Rica: Heredia: La Selva Biological Station.





Basiliscus basiliscus (Common Basilisk / Jesus Christ Lizard). Costa Rica: Heredia: La Selva Biological Station.



Rana warszewitschii (Brilliant Forest Frog). Costa Rica: Alajuela: Arenal Volcano National Park.





Ameiva festiva (Central American Whip-tailed Lizard). Costa Rica: Alajuela: Cerro Chato.



Ameiva festiva (Central American Whip-tailed Lizard); juvenile. Costa Rica: Alajuela: Cerro Chato.



Atropoides nummifer (Jumping Pit Viper); brown phase. Costa Rica: Alajuela: Cerro Chato.













Unidentified gecko. Costa Rica: Puntarenas.



Ctenosaura similis (Black Spiny-tailed Iguana / Black Ctenosaur). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Tárcoles River.



Crocodylus acutus (American Crocodile). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Tárcoles River.















Corallus ruschenbergerii (Common Tree Boa). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Damas Island.



Iguana iguana (Green Iguana). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Damas Island.









Hemidactylus frenatus (House Gecko); juvenile. Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Manuel Antonio.



Leptodactylus pentadactylus (Smoki Jungle Frog). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Manuel Antonio.



Smilisca phaeota (Masked Tree Frog); brown phase. Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Manuel Antonio National Park.



Agalychnis callidryas (Red-eyed Leaf Frog). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Manuel Antonio National Park.



Ctenosaura similis (Black Spiny-tailed Iguana / Black Ctenosaur). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Manuel Antonio National Park.



Boa constrictor (Boa Constrictor / Red-tailed Boa / Common Boa). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Manuel Antonio National Park.

[DutchHerp]

Norops polylepsis (Golfo Dulce Anole). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Manuel Antonio National Park.





Caiman crocodilus (Spectacled Caiman). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Manuel Antonio National Park.





Ameiva quadrilineata (Four-lined Whip-tailed Lizard). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Carara National Park.





Ameiva undulata (Rainbow Ameiva). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Carara National Park.



Ameiva leptophrys (Delicate Ameiva). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Carara National Park.



Norops limifrons (Slender Anole). Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Carara National Park.





Ameiva leptophys (Delicate Ameiva); mating pair. Costa Rica: Puntarenas: Carara National Park.




Species list

Order Anura (Frogs and toads)

1. Bufo marinus (Cane / Giant / Marine Toad)
2. Leptodactylus pentadactylus (Smoki Jungle Frog) *
3. Eleutherodactylus / Craugastor fitzingeri (Common Rain Frog) *
4. Eleutherodactylus cruentus (Golden Groined Rain Frog)
5. Agalychnis callidryas (Red-eyed Leaf Frog) *
6. Hyla rosenbergi (Gladiator Tree Frog) *
7. Hyla ebraccata (Hourglass Tree Frog) *
8. Smilisca phaeota (Masked Tree Frog) *
9. Dendrobates pumilio (Strawberry / Bluejeans Poison Dart Frog) *
10. Rana vaillanti (Vaillant’s Frog) *
11. Rana warszewitschii (Brilliant Forest Frog) *

Order Squamata

Suborder Sauria (Lizards)

12. Basiliscus basiliscus (Common Basilisk / Jesus Christ Lizard) *
13. Ctenosaura similis (Black Spiny-tailed Iguana / Black Ctenosaur) *
14. Iguana iguana (Green Iguana) *
15. Norops limifrons (Slender Anole) *
16. Norops polylepsis (Golfo Dulce Anole) *
17. Hemidactylus frenatus (House Gecko) *
18. Ameiva festiva (Central American Whip-tailed Lizard) *
19. Ameiva leptophrys (Delicate Ameiva) *
20. Ameiva quadrilineata (Four-lined Whip-tailed Lizard) *
21. Ameiva undulata (Rainbow Ameiva) *

Suborder Serpentes (Snakes)

22. Boa constrictor (Boa Constrictor / Red-tailed Boa / Common Boa) *
23. Corallus ruschenbergerii (Common Tree Boa) *
24. Oxybelis aeneus (Brown Vine Snake)
25. Scaphiodonthophis annulatus (Shovel-toothed Snake) *
26. Atropoides nummifer (Jumping Pit Viper) *

Order Testudinata (Turtles)

27. Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima (Brown Wood Turtle) ???

Order Crodoilia (Crocodilians)

28. Caiman crocodiles (Spectacled Caiman) *
29. Crocodylus acutus (American Crocodile) *


* Photo included

[CTReptileRescue]

Absolutely incredible!
No other words, holding breath, only because my two fav's are herps and photography.
I'm glad you were able to have the honor of travel and great pics, must have been awesome

[llovelace]

Great pics

[juddb]

Out of control!!! Seems like you had some great luck capturing some amazing species. The volcano photo is unstoppable!!!

[DutchHerp]

Absolutely incredible!
No other words, holding breath, only because my two fav's are herps and photography.
I'm glad you were able to have the honor of travel and great pics, must have been awesome

Thanks a lot! Those seem to be my two favorites as well.

Great pics

Most of these were taken by my father, except for a few, including the close-ups of the Jumping Pit Viper.

Out of control!!! Seems like you had some great luck capturing some amazing species. The volcano photo is unstoppable!!!

I did have a great amount of luck, I'm very grateful. The volcano shots were hit or miss; even though the volcano erupted a few times an hour, we got lucky with the clear sky and the eruption when the photo was being taken.

[nwheat]

Amazing pictures! What a wonderful trip!

[LadyOhh]

Those are amazing!!!

[Wh00h0069]

Wow!! Great pics! Now I want to go to Costa Rica...

[DutchHerp]

Amazing pictures! What a wonderful trip!

Thank you, it was great.

Those are amazing!!!

Thanks a lot!

Wow!! Great pics! Now I want to go to Costa Rica...

You're not telling me that you didn't want to go before, right?