Hi!
Since I was a child I've been dreaming about Costa Rica.
I've been traveling with my girlfriend from Mexico to Panama for 4 months (Sept - Jan 14-15) - Super exited to see CR - and those are my herping highlights of the trip.
I didn't used any private guide or tour. Google is the best
None of the herps was harmed or moved out of its habitat.
Enjoy!
At first, a bit from the neighbour countries:
Mexico:
Black Iguana:
Black Iguana - Ctenosaura similis by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Juvenile Iguana
juvenile Spiny Tailed Iguana by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Painted Turtle
Painted Turtle by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Dragonfly
Dragonfly by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Belize - Cockscomb reserve:
Coffee Snake
Redback Coffee Snake - Ninia sebae by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Mud Turtle - Kinosternon genus:
Big Green anole from Guatemala - Neotropical Green Anole (Anolis biporcatus)
Green Anole by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Hungry Anole - Ghost Anole (Anolis lemurinus)
Brown Anole: During lunch by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Nicaragua:
3 different racers were crossed my road and I didnt managed to get a photo.
Cane Toad:
Neotropical Wood Turtle - at one volcano summit (Ometepe)
Panama - Due a storm I couldnt go to the places I really wanted:
Strawberry Poison Dart Frog - Oophaga pumilio
Strawberry Poison Dart Frog - Oophaga pumilio by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Finally: Costa Rica
Arenal Area
I became crazy for looking yellow spots in the jungle so I was super happy to see this golden beauty at the entrance to Arenal NP:
Yellow Eyelash Pit Viper - Bothriechis schlegelii by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
One tree to the right was another one hidden very well:
Camouflage - Eyelash PitViper - Bothriechis schlegelii by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Anole
At Monte Verde I found this AWESOME unique tree frog which identified as melanistic Pristimantis cruentus
Unique Tree Frog - Pristimantis cruentus by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Unique Tree Frog - Pristimantis cruentus by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
I took a night tour for a chance to see side-striped palm viper (Bothriechis lateralis) (lora venenosa locally)
We have found this rare cool frog - Red Eyed Stream Frog - Duellmanohyla uranochroa:
Red Eyed Stream Frog - Duellmanohyla uranochroa by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
And by the moment Ive seen the snake the guide forbid me to come closer into the bushes.
Damn I was sp pissed about the guide.
Bothriechis lateralis
Chilamate lodge:
Blunt Headed Tree Snake - Imantodes cenchoa, That snake was everywhere!
Blunt Headed Tree Snake - Imantodes cenchoa by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Juvi:
juvenile Blunt Headed Tree Snake - Imantodes cenchoa by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Those amazing frogs were pretty common at night. Red eyed tree frog
Got this printed on Canvas in my office
Red Eyed Tree Frog - Agalychnis callidryas by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Red Eyed Tree Frog - Agalychnis callidryas by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
One night I tried other property. No snakes were seen but this beautiful Masked tree frog:
Masked Tree Frog - Smilisca phaeota - ID not sure by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Green Basilisk sleeping in the bush:
Emerald Basilisk - Basiliscus plumifrons by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
The Sleeping Beauty - Anolis capito:
The Sleeping Beauty - Anolis capito by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Dart frogs:
Blue Jeans Dart Frog - Dendrobates pumilio by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Black and Green Dart Frog - Dendrobates auratus by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Gladiator Tree Frog(?)
Gladiator Tree Frog - Hypsiboas rosenbergi by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Smoky Jungle Frog:
Rhaebo haematiticus (Litter Toad)
Craugastor fitzingeri (or related species)
Scinax elaeochroa (Olive-snouted Treefrog)
Rana warszewitschii (Brilliant Forest Frog)
Tortugero NP:
Brownish Eyelash PitViper - Bothriechis schlegelii:
Eyelash PitViper - Bothriechis schlegelii by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
In-situ:
Parrot Snake - Leptophis ahaetulla:
After a big one escaped in Belize and another one in the same park, I finally managed to get a good one:
Parrot Snake - Leptophis ahaetulla by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
UNKNOWN Golden Frog
Night walk in a private property (Look for ASVO) didn't resulted anything interesting. bummer.
Cahuita NP: This park is a snake paradise at day time. Just imagine hw awesome it is at night... (Entrace is forbidden)
Another yellow beauty:
Yellow Eyelash Pit Viper - Bothriechis schlegelii by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Yellow Eyelash Pit Viper - Bothriechis schlegelii by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Challenge! Find the snake (in-situ)
Rainforest Hognosed Pit Viper - Porthidium nasutum
Apparently, those guys can JUMP! My girlfriend almost did what the snake didnt (She wanted to kill me haha)
The coloration of this individual wasn't too impressive...
Rainforest Hognosed Pit Viper - Porthidium nasutum by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Brown Vine Snake - One of my favorites!
When this snake feels stress, it can stick out its tongue and move with the wind like a vine. Truly Awesome!
Brown Vine Snake - Oxybelis aeneus by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Brown Vine Snake - Oxybelis aeneus by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Brown Vine Snake - Oxybelis aeneus by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Brown Vine Snake - Oxybelis aeneus by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Yellow-spotted Night Lizard:
Pacific Coast: Gulfito:
Camron Climbing Salamander - Bolitoglossa lignicolor
Camron Climbing Salamander - Bolitoglossa lignicolor by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Rain Frog - Pristimantis family
Rain Frog - Pristimantis family by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
Hacienda Baru - Dominical
Beautiful place to finish 4 month trip in!
Cat eye snake:
And after hearing dreadful stories all over about this snake, finally I found it.
My girlfriend almost stepped on it at the first time I was letting her to lead at night.
The mighty Fer De Lence!
I couldnt get a better photo as it turned aroung to the bushes and vanished. Same happend with the second one.
Cappuchin Monkeys
Stream Turtle
Bad-ass looking UNKNOWN toad
Black Iguana:
Green Iguana:
Till the next time...
Running Home - Baby Olive Ridely Turtle by Shani Cohen, on Flickr
There are some other species I've seen and their photos are not included here.
4 month is a really, really long time to summarize in one post.
Cheers
Shani
Pictures from Central America (Mainly Costa Rica) 2014
Moderator: Scott Waters
Re: Pictures from Central America (Mainly Costa Rica) 2014
Awesome trip! The last pic is the coolest one to me - still waiting to see a sea turtle.
Your Gladiator Frog looks like a Smilisca, maybe S. puma. Your unknown lizard is a Yellow-spotted Night Lizard. The badass unknown frog is some sort of toad. Do you have any full-body shots?
Your Gladiator Frog looks like a Smilisca, maybe S. puma. Your unknown lizard is a Yellow-spotted Night Lizard. The badass unknown frog is some sort of toad. Do you have any full-body shots?
Re: Pictures from Central America (Mainly Costa Rica) 2014
Thanks!
I dont have a body shot of that toad. Its green eyes took my attention.
About the Gladiator, Its hard to tell...
I added a few photos of Unknown frogs.
I dont have a body shot of that toad. Its green eyes took my attention.
About the Gladiator, Its hard to tell...
I added a few photos of Unknown frogs.
- Paul Freed
- Posts: 130
- Joined: November 10th, 2013, 12:14 pm
- Location: Pacific Northwest (Oregon) U.S.
Re: Pictures from Central America (Mainly Costa Rica) 2014
Great post and nice photos, Shani! [By the way, the turtle you called: "Mud turtle at one volcano summit (Ometepe)" is actually not a mud turtle but rather a Wood Turtle (Rhinoclemmys, likely R. annulata)]. That's a shame the guide wouldn't let you get closer to the Bothriechis lateralis, it's an impressive species. Do you have any other photos of the fourth, unidentified frog? It looks like it might be Lithobates warszewitschii, but without seeing the entire body I can't be sure. Thanks so much for sharing!
-Paul
-Paul
Re: Pictures from Central America (Mainly Costa Rica) 2014
Great trip report you saw tons of cool critters.
Glad you had a good time!
Luckily those stories tend to be exaggerated especially when told by locals. If they were as mean as everyone likes to claim I'd have been in really big trouble several times over. They are much more nervous than other vipers I have encountered and never seem to stay still once I see them, but they're just trying to get away.And after hearing dreadful stories all over about this snake, finally I found it.
My girlfriend almost stepped on it at the first time I was letting her to lead at night.
The mighty Fer De Lence!
Glad you had a good time!
Re: Pictures from Central America (Mainly Costa Rica) 2014
That tan frog on the leaf definitely looks more like Smilisca puma or S. sordida than like a Gladiator, and I think your S. phaeota is more likely S. puma or sordida as well. Here's your 4 mystery frogs:
1) Rhaebo haematiticus (Litter Toad)
2) Craugastor fitzingeri (or related species)
3) Scinax elaeochroa (Olive-snouted Treefrog)
4) Rana warszewitschii (Brilliant Forest Frog)
1) Rhaebo haematiticus (Litter Toad)
2) Craugastor fitzingeri (or related species)
3) Scinax elaeochroa (Olive-snouted Treefrog)
4) Rana warszewitschii (Brilliant Forest Frog)
- Cole Grover
- Posts: 746
- Joined: June 8th, 2010, 10:06 am
- Location: Montana
Re: Pictures from Central America (Mainly Costa Rica) 2014
Cool post. Cbernz got your frogs.
Cole
Cole
Re: Pictures from Central America (Mainly Costa Rica) 2014
Thanks for your comments guys!
I updated the unknown ones. Still got one missing from Tortugero NP.
Cheers
Shani
I updated the unknown ones. Still got one missing from Tortugero NP.
Cheers
Shani
Re: Pictures from Central America (Mainly Costa Rica) 2014
Looks like a great trip, major congrats on finding the time, money, friend, and decisiveness to pull it off. I hope you both came back healthy and still good friends. I did this kind of trip once with a friend (same basic trip as yours, but a month shorter); we got married a few years after.
cheers,
Jimi
Ah, a lovely animal, and one that's easier to find at night than in daytime (they don't seem to lay about in the open so much as eyelashes, they hide better). Many species of arboreal vipers & boids will often remain in the same exact spot, or very close by, for a couple of weeks at a time if they aren't molested. Your guide may have been looking ahead to tomorrow's satisfied customer (who he could show the same snake to, I mean). As I think you suggested, it's way easier to go straight to a snake you have already located, than to find a new one. Except for the crazy places like Cahuita anyway, ha ha - that place rocks for daytime eyelash vipers. Anyway, I hope this helps you feel a little better about the guide. Guy's gotta make a living, and you ticked this species off your list. Not the easiest of CR's vipers to see, by a long shot.And by the moment Ive seen the snake the guide forbid me to come closer into the bushes.
Damn I was sp pissed about the guide.
Bothriechis lateralis
cheers,
Jimi
Re: Pictures from Central America (Mainly Costa Rica) 2014
You switched the wrong turtle names.
This turtle is one of the mud turtles in the genus Kinosternon, maybe K. leucostomum or K. scorpiodes. You didn't say where you found it.
The turtle you have labeled as a mud turtle from the volcano summit is Rhinoclemmys sp. (Neotropical Wood Turtle species)
The turtle labeled Stream Turtle looks like a species of Staurotypus maybe?
also....
Your "Painted Turtle" is actually a species of Trachemys (possibly Trachemys venusta, depending again where you found it)
Your Green Anole is the Neotropical Green Anole (Anolis biporcatus).
Your Brown Anole looks like the Ghost Anole (Anolis lemurinus).
I'm not sure what your "Masked Treefrog" is, but I don't think it is Smilisca phaeota.
This turtle is one of the mud turtles in the genus Kinosternon, maybe K. leucostomum or K. scorpiodes. You didn't say where you found it.
The turtle you have labeled as a mud turtle from the volcano summit is Rhinoclemmys sp. (Neotropical Wood Turtle species)
The turtle labeled Stream Turtle looks like a species of Staurotypus maybe?
also....
Your "Painted Turtle" is actually a species of Trachemys (possibly Trachemys venusta, depending again where you found it)
Your Green Anole is the Neotropical Green Anole (Anolis biporcatus).
Your Brown Anole looks like the Ghost Anole (Anolis lemurinus).
I'm not sure what your "Masked Treefrog" is, but I don't think it is Smilisca phaeota.
Re: Pictures from Central America (Mainly Costa Rica) 2014
Jimi, Thanks for your comment.
Me and my girl friend are still together and everything is great. Cheers for that
chrish, Thanks buddy. I updated again.
The 'masked tree frog' is uncertain. I asked a few experts and that what they told.
Still curious about the unknown golden frog.
Me and my girl friend are still together and everything is great. Cheers for that
chrish, Thanks buddy. I updated again.
The 'masked tree frog' is uncertain. I asked a few experts and that what they told.
Still curious about the unknown golden frog.