Friday 19 April 2013

COSTA RICA La Selva Biological Station

This conservation area is one of the two most important tropical research institutions in the world.  We stayed here for 3 nights, went on 3 guided walks and felt privileged to contribute our tourist dollars to the enterprise.  Because it covers such a large area and so many diverse habitats, the species list for everything from birds to bats to fish is extensive.
Collared peccaries were often seen
Agouti below our balcony
Male howler monkeys have very loud voices.

3-toed sloth waking up
Another 3-toed sloth peeing
























By chance, we had the same guide for each walk, Geiner.  He was great - enthusiastic and happy to search for all creatures.

Two ocelots were seen from this bridge while we stayed here.
Everyone crossing the bridge into the jungle had to wear boots because of venomous snakes.  They gave me rubber boots since my boots had been stolen in Quito.



We saw 2 snakes, each less than 1 m and so deadly that the guide used my camera for the first one.

Hog-nosed viper

Eyelash viper
Other reptiles seen were iguanas, turtles, skinks and anoles.
Green Iguanas sat on top of trees near the river.

Rarely seen Helmeted Iguana

Brown wood turtle
Of course, there were many other animals.
Crested guan
Blue-gray tanager
Passerini`s tanager

Female curassow

Bullfrog

Bullant, feared by all

Poison dart frog aka Blue Jeans, seen everywhere

Mating millipedes


wasps

Golden orb weaver


Invading ants drove these bats out of a post.

White tent-making bats under their leaf shelter

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