In the middle of April I went on a short trip to Costa Rica with my family. We stayed in the La Fortuna area for 4 days. Here are some cell phone photos from the trip.
One day was spent rafting down a slow river looking for wildlife. There were lots of green iguanas perched both high and low on branches along the river.
20240417_090352 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Iguana iguana
One of the highlights was seeing this big male green basilisk. I had seen green basilisks on previous trips, but never an adult male. They have to be one of the coolest lizards
20240417_091008 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Basiliscus plumifrons
We also saw a few younger ones
20240417_095018(0) by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Basiliscus plumifrons
Overall the rafting trip was really fun. Got to see some cool mammals and birds too. The last herp seen there was an American crocodile, but I didn’t get a good photo.
We did two hikes during the trip, one around Arenal volcano, and one at the hanging bridges in the area. Both produced a couple herps.
These whiptails were seen pretty much everywhere throughout the trip.
20240416_105144 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Holcosus festivus
One of the herp highlights of the trip was an anole that I didn’t even know existed. There was a troop of spider monkeys crashing around that everyone was interested in, but then I saw this anole high up on a trunk. I spent my time admiring the lizard while everyone watched the monkeys. I was so impressed with how big it was. This photo was taken with my phone through a spotting scope.
20240417_171058 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Anolis insignis
I only saw 2 snakes on the trip, but the first was a species I had wanted to see for a long time. It was found crossing the trail. Unfortunately it would not sit still, so I only got some in hand shots.
20240416_123955 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
20240416_103932 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Phrynonax poecilonotus
There were 2 criteria when I was picking the lodge for this trip, a pool for my kids, and it needed to have its own trails. That way I could easily go for a quick walk if given the opportunity day or night. The rest of the herps are from the hotel grounds.
The spotting scope came in handy for this striped basilisk
20240419_112759 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Basiliscus vittatus
I spent quite a bit of time stalking, sneaking up on, and trying to get some good photos through the scope of some black wood turtles. Here is one
20240419_113832 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
However, it turned out I could just walk right up to within 20 feet of them and they didn’t care. They were along a trail that gets walked every day during a guided tour. I guess they are used to people. Unaided cell phone shots:
20240419_113921 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
20240419_113912 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Rhinclemmys funerea
This gecko greeted us at our room
20240416_095244 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Pretty sure it’s the native Thecadactylus rapicauda
I saw a few of these anoles hopping around
20240416_164713 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Anolis limifrons
I was able to get out 2 nights for only about 30 -45 minutes each. I didn’t have to go far to find this coffee snake. Despite having been to Costa Rica 3 times prior, this was the first time I have seen this supposedly common snake.
20240417_225944 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
20240417_230023 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Ninia sebae
That was the only snake I saw on the grounds, but was able to stir up some frogs.
20240418_213309 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Rana vaillanti
20240417_232105 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Leptodactylus fragilis
20240417_232033 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Leptodactylus savagei
I wish I got to see an adult of these toads, but I had to settle for a couple juveniles.
20240418_211923 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
20240417_232338 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Rhaebo haematiticus
Because it was the very end of the dry season, we didn’t see a drop of rain the entire time, I wasn’t expecting any treefrogs. So I was surprised to see this perched kind of low in the middle of the forest. At first I thought it was a red eyed tree frog, but on closer inspection I was even more surprised and thrilled to see it was another species I had never seen before.
20240416_223832 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Agalychnis saltator
One other tree frog species made an appearance
20240418_214453 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
Smilisca baudinii
In total I saw 20 species of herps, many of which were lifers for me. Even at the end of the dry season, with limited actual herping time, Costa Rica once again did not disappoint. Ill leave you with a few mammals.
20240419_100850 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
20240417_172305 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
20240417_193135 by Kevin Pollack, on Flickr
April Costa Rica trip
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: April Costa Rica trip
Nice! The gecko is actually Lepidodactylus lugubris
Re: April Costa Rica trip
Thanks, I think you are right but are you positive? I was going back and forth between the two. The 2019 Leenders guide doesnt have them ranging anywhere near there which was one reason I skewed toward Thecadactylus. But I just checked Inat and they are all over La Fortuna.
Re: April Costa Rica trip
Nice stuff! That coffee snake is nice, and I am glad you got it after several attempts. Apt name for a Central American species....
Re: April Costa Rica trip
Yeah, I am pretty sure.
Kfen wrote: ↑May 22nd, 2024, 6:37 amThanks, I think you are right but are you positive? I was going back and forth between the two. The 2019 Leenders guide doesnt have them ranging anywhere near there which was one reason I skewed toward Thecadactylus. But I just checked Inat and they are all over La Fortuna.