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If there is one animal that you are guaranteed of seeing many of in Tortuguero, it might be the Green Iguana! And remember the differences in the two iguanas here: the Black Spiny-tailed lives only on the Pacific Slope & Coast while the Green can live anywhere but is more predominant on the Caribbean Slope. One photo for the email version and then a gallery of 6 different looks of the Green Iguana (my gallery link).
Because Macaw is on the Pacific Slope, it can and does have both species of iguanas living in Costa Rica, the Spiny-tailed and the Green Iguanas. While the Atlantic or Caribbean side has only the Green. Here’s one shot of each at Macaw Lodge . . .
¡Pura Vida!
And don’t miss this weekend’s BIG ART FAIR at Plaza Calle 2! JIT! Just in time for the Holidays with gift possibilities for everyone!
🙂 I say that because they are not always green as anyone who visits the tropics has noticed. I especially enjoy the males in mating season when they turn bright orange (not this time, though you can see them in my gallery). This time they were green to brown or greenish brown with some blue-gray and one black. And yes, I know that there is one called a “Black Spiny-tailed Iguana” or the “Common Spiny-tailed Iguana” (Ctenosaura similis), but it’s features are different and it lives only along the Pacific Coast and thus would not be at Maquenque Lodge which is on the Caribbean Slope where only the “Green Iguana” (Iguana iguana) lives. And it is interesting to note that the babies of both species are bright green. 🙂
Below are 4 more photos (in different colors) from this trip and then a link to my photo galleries of both species of Iguanas . . .
Well — he’s an immature Green Iguana “I think,” but the immature Black Iguana is also greenish, so he could technically be either one (though I think the face looks more like the green). But the last adult iguana I had here was the Black Spiny-tailed Iguana, so maybe that’s more likely. 🙂 Juveniles are difficult to ID for certain!
This one just happened to be in my casita’s gutter when I was on my morning garden walk the other day. I don’t see iguanas around my house very often, but when I do they often climb the trees to get away from me which makes it easy for a young one like this to jump over on the house roof. I doubt they find much to eat around my house which is why I seldom see one. A full-grown Iguana is more than twice the size of this one! (Green or Black) 🙂
I see them everywhere I go in Costa Rica, even occasionally in my yard, but I still continue to be amazed by the prehistoric looking, dinosaur-like creature! On the Caribbean Coast, where Tortuguero is located, you find only the Green Iguana; while on the Pacific slope you can find both the Green and the Common Spiny-tailed Iguana, and that includes Atenas where I live,s which is on the Pacific Slope. All four of these photos are Green Iguanas and if you don’t already know, the orange colors come to only the males during mating season, which supposedly attracts the females more than the green or brown colors. 🙂 I shared a face-shot of the all-orange one in an earlier blog post.
Today was too busy because I had to take tours when they were available – two today! Morning and afternoon, both by boat and both with some rain. Reports on both great tours later but here’s a male Green Iguana who, I know, is orange! The male Green Iguanas turn orange during mating season because that is supposedly more attractive to female iguanas than green! Hmmm! Who am I to question female iguanas? 🙂 I photographed it near my cabin after lunch today between the two boat tours.
See my gallery of other Green Iguana photos.
And I read an article today about the new bus station in Alajuela that is finally open! It’s the one I will use regularly.
Continue reading “An Iguana from Today & New Bus Station Open in Alajuela”
A strange combination! The last of my wildlife photos from Playa Cativo Lodge with Landscapes, Leaves and Flowers coming next! 🙂
And several more photos . . .
Continue reading “Reptiles & Crabs”
I did not include the “Green” in the title, though according to the books this area of Costa Rica has only Green Iguanas and none of the the Black or Spiny-tailed Iguanas, but all four of these photographed below are so different from each other, making me doubtful, even though I know that Green Iguanas come in all colors, have spiny tails, and frequently look like the other Iguana found on the Pacific Slope of Costa Rica. Here’s 4 different ones with all of them photographed on the Farm Hike at Maquenque Ecolodge, 17 February 2022. Note that the lodge is located on the Caribbean (Atlantic) Slope of Costa Rica which has only Green Iguanas according to the books.
Last night I had not gone through my boat trip photos, so my “Other Wildlife” shots (non-bird) missed the American Crocodile and the Green Iguana which are both important animals in the wetlands of Maquenque Lodge and Reserve. And I’m saving the best for last, the BIRDS will be coming soon! Then my online photo gallery of what is now one of my favorite lodges! And maybe I will write about all the wonderful Europeans and Ticos I have met here at Maquenque – not a single other American – all others here are from Germany, France, the Netherlands and Costa Rica. A delightful mixture! 🙂
Click image to enlarge.
¡Pura Vida!
You may also enjoy my Other Wildlife Gallery
and my 2019 Maquenque Lodge Trip Gallery
See also the lodge website: Maquenque Ecolodge
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| Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth Mother with Child Soropta Canal, Changuinola near Bocas del Toro, Panama |
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| Juvenile Green IguanaSoropta Canal, Changuinola near Bocas del Toro, Panama |
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| Unknown Insect On our mainland highland hike near Bocas del Toro, Panama |
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| Blue Crab or Mangrove Crab Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
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| Common Basilisk or “Jesus Christ Lizard” Tranquilo Bay Eco Adventure Lodge, Bocas del Toro, Panama |
See my “Trip Gallery”:
2018 Tranquilo Bay, Bocas del Toro, Panama