Jenny Varley

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Costa Rica

We spent sixteen nights in Costa Rica, travelling to several very different environments and ecosystems. It is a tiny country sandwiched between Nicaragua and Panama, and with coasts on both the Pacific and Caribbean. Elevations range from sea level to over 3800 metres, and around 25% of the land is classed as within protected areas, and as a result there is a huge variety of flora and fauna. We enjoyed seeing a large diversity of species, from leaf-cutter ants and spiders through frogs, lizards, crocodiles, snakes, many spectacular birds large and small including the magnificent Respendent Quetzal (including six males and one female near an avocado tree one morning!), coatimundis, tamanduas, sloths and primates.

Thanks to Wildlife Worldwide for organising the trip, and to Nick Garbutt who, as always, was a hugely knowledgeable, enthusiastic and helpful leader.

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Rainforest Hognosed Pitvipers have deep pits between the eye and the nostril  which can detect warm-blooded prey.  They are highly venomous
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Rainforest Hognosed Pitvipers have deep pits between the eye and the nostril which can detect warm-blooded prey. They are highly venomous

Costa RicaHognosed pit viperpitviperPorthidium nasutum

  • When disturbed, they flash their bulging red eyes and reveal their huge, webbed orange feet and bright blue-and-yellow flanks
  • During the day they hide in trees and cover their eyes with a nictitating membrane.  These two were mating, with the male holding the female as she lay her eggs
  • A tiny (under 1 inch long) but brightly coloured frog, a "blue jeans" morph of the Strawberry Poison Dart Frog
  • Nice blue jeans!
  • A Pepper Tree Frog on palms near a pond in Bosque del Cabo - with remarkable eyes
  • A spectacular diurnal Green and Black Poison Dart Frog. They secrete a potent poison if disturbed
  • A nocturnal and arboreal Cloudy Snail-eater
  • Northern Cat-eyed Snakes are arboreal and nocturnal and lurk near ponds trying to catch frogs
  • What a frog sees!
  • Rainforest Hognosed Pitvipers have deep pits between the eye and the nostril  which can detect warm-blooded prey.  They are highly venomous
  • A "baby" Eyelash Pitviper, small but still venomous!
  • An adult green-phase Eyelash Pitviper.  Potentially deadly!
  • An adult golden phase Eyelash Pitviper showing off its eyelashes
  • Emerald Basilisk lizards are remarkably well camouflaged and are usually found near water
  • Untitled photo
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