Costa Rica

[gus]

It seems that a visit to Costa Rica isn't that big a deal to many north americans as everyone seems to have been there. For me though it was a huge deal. The fauna couldn't be any more different to that of Australia. It was a long time in the coming but I managed to visit last year. I saw a great diversity of wildlife, more than the toucan, monkey and sloth which is all most of the guides seem to know about. I spent most of my time on my own, and visited all the usual places, CRARC, la selva, monteverde, dominical, cerro de la muerte, cerro dantas and tortugero. Some happy snaps of some herps are below with a link at the bottom to photos of other fauna.

The main target of my trip
Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Red-eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Lemur Leaf Frog (Agalychnis lemur) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

My first ever salamander
Cukra Climbing Salamander (Bolitoglossa striatula) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Rufous-eyed Brook Frog (Duellmanohyla rufioculis) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Yellow-headed Gecko (Gonatodes albogularis) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Noble's Robber Frog (Craugastor noblei) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Craugastor melanostictus by Angus McNab, on Flickr

wouldn't be a trip to costa rica without these
Green and Black Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates auratus) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Strawberry Poison-dart Frog (Oophaga pumilio) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Tungara Frog (Engystomops (Physalaemus) pustulosus) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Warszewitsch's frog (Rana warszewitschii) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Glass frogs are nothing short of amazing. the eyes, see through bellies and high pitches calls are like nothing else.
Cascade Glass Frog (Cochranella albomaculata) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Ghost Glass Frog (Centrolene ilex) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Plumed basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Splendid Leaf Frog (Cruziohyla calcarifer) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Palmer's Tree Frog (Hyloscirtus palmeri) metamorph by Angus McNab, on Flickr

The biggest frogs I've ever seen
Savage's Thin-toed Frog (Leptodactylus savagei) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Snakes were a lot harder to come across than I'd hoped. I didn't have a car which may have helped.
Mapepire Corde Violon / Blunthead Tree Snake (Imantodes cenchoa) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Mapepire Corde Violon / Blunthead Tree Snake (Imantodes cenchoa) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

One of the oddest snakes I've ever seen
Nothopis rugusos by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Fer-de-lance were common and amazing. I'd take vipers over elapids anyday
Fer-de-lance / Terciopelo (Bothrops asper) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Halloween Snake (Pliocercus euryzonus) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Mantled Howler Monkey (Alouatta palliata) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Mexican Mouse Opossum (Marmosa mexicana) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

I would have liked to have gotten on to a few more bats, but I was very happy to see this
Common Vampire Bat (Desmodus rotundus) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

The birds over there....amazing!
Broad-billed Motmot (Electron platyrhynchum) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

I couldn't help but be excited by hummingbirds
Violet Sabrewing (Campylopterus hemileucurus) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

Green-crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula) by Angus McNab, on Flickr

The rest of my time in Costa Rica can be seen here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/angusmcna ... 2905882696

After which I went to Colombia, I'll post some pics from there soon.

[orionmystery]

Great set. Makes me want to go to CR now!

[Jeroen Speybroeck]

Who needs snakes if you have Cruziohyla!? Great stuff, thanks!

[Kfen]

Are photography classes required in Australia? It seems like everyone that posts here from OZ takes stellar pictures. I particularly like the double hummingbird and the green basilisk. Great post all around.

[csalemi731]

these photos really make me miss Costa Rica. Love the Glass Frogs

[Kevin Price]

Awesome post. I live in Southern California but have never had the opportunity to visit Costa Rica, even though it's close geographically. Some day I will and when I do it's the eyelash viper that I seek above all others. Beautiful images.