The last 3 reptiles that I will share from Tortuguero and like other categories of wildlife, I saw more than I got useable photos of. 🙂
A Caiman & 2 Lizards
The Incredible Iguana
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.
The Two Basilisks
In the Caribe where I was last week, there two kinds of Basilisks, both called “Miniature Dinosaurs” and “Jesus Christ Lizards” (because they both “walk on water”). The most popular is the Plumed or Emerald Basilisk (Wikipedia link) and the Common, Striped or Brown Basilisk (Wikipedia link). Here are a couple of photos of each from last week, then be sure to see my galleries for each below that! And I prefer the names of Emerald and Brown! 🙂
Plumed, Green or Emerald Basilisk
Common, Striped or Brown Basilisk
My Gallery titled: Emerald Basilisk
My Gallery titled: Common, Brown or Striped Basilisk
¡Pura Vida!
Reptiles & Crabs
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”Two Basilisks
Everyone prefers the Emerald Basilisk, sometimes called Green Basilisk, but the Brown Basilisk is seen just about as much even with his better camouflage. 🙂 In these photos, the Emerald is an adult male with the head crest while the brown without a crest could be either a juvenile or a female. Both are found all over Costa Rica, especially near water. Note that both have a tail longer than the body. And both are sometimes called “Jesus Christ Lizards” because they walk on water (or run).
Other Wildlife at Caño Negro
And this is it for that day excursion from Arenal Observatory Lodge, having done the birds post yesterday and earlier posts on 3 species of monkeys. Caño Negro is a wildlife-rich place for a 2+ hour boat ride and in our case lunch by the river before returning.
Male Green Iguana with two females! 
Male Green Iguana in Mating Orange Color 
Emerald Basilisk 
Tropical Slider 
Tropical Slider Spectacled Caiman 
Long-nosed Bats
“By discovering nature, you discover yourself. “
~Maxime Lagacé
For more Costa Rica Wildlife see my OTHER WILDLIFE GALLERIES.
¡Pura Vida!
Unknown Snake at Rancho Naturalista
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| Unknown Snake I zoomed in or cropped one photo for this closer look. Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
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| Unknown Snake I’m guessing about 2 meters long. Rancho Naturalista, Costa Rica |
He was outside in front of the laundry room and as we gave him attention, he disappeared in the leaves and undergrowth of one of the flowers. At first glance he is a dark brown snake, like the one I saw cross a trail here on my arrival day. At closer look he seems to have an orange belly or at least up front and to have other colors than just brown on his back or dorsal side. See first image. He is similar to 3 or 4 in my snake book, but not an exact match, so I am not naming him.
See my Costa Rica Reptiles Photo Gallery for about 24 species
Iguanas & Lizards at Sarapiquí
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| Green Iguana (male in mating orange) Selva Verde Lodge Sarapiquí, Chilamate, Costa Rica |
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| Emerald Basilisk (“Jesus Christ Lizard”) Selva Verde Lodge Sarapiquí, Chilamate, Costa Rica |
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| Gray Lichen Anole Selva Verde Lodge Sarapiquí, Chilamate, Costa Rica |
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| Unknown – Possibly a type of Skink or Ameiva (there are many) Selva Verde Lodge Sarapiquí, Chilamate, Costa Rica |
See also my photo gallery of Reptiles And I still have insects and other animals to share! 🙂
What Global Warming is Doing to Costa Rica This Year is an interesting article about the radical weather we have been having. We had our first hurricane in 300 years, more eruptions of one volcano, and heavier winds and rains than normal. You guys in the states need to convince your new idiot president-elect that global warming is real! It affects everyone!
Jaguar Rescue Center, Puerto Viejo
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| Jaguar Rescue Center is located on the south side of Puerto Viejo, not far from my hotel in Manzanillo. No Jaguars here! It got its name from the first animal the founder actually rescued, a baby Jaguar whose mother had been killed and would have died otherwise. Photo on above entrance sign is of a one-eyed monkey. |
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| Nice Little Cafe and Gift Shop at the entrance, but not as big or as developed as Zoo Ave in La Garita! And you can only visit on a schedule with a tour guide, so get times ahead! On website: Jaguar Rescue Center, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
NOTE: I am not repeating the photos of a Northern Tamandua Anteater and a Red-eyed Tree Frog that were shot here but shown in earlier posts. Click links to see again.
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| Brown Pelican with a broken wing Jaguar Rescue Center, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
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| Unidentified Hawk, similar to Gray and Gray Lined, but those are not in the Caribbean and our group was too large for me to constantly ask the name of animals. Jaguar Rescue Center, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
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| Baby Possums whose mother was killed. They will raise and try to introduce back into the wild. Jaguar Rescue Center, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
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| Groove-billed Ani Jaguar Rescue Center, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
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| Keel-billed Toucan Jaguar Rescue Center, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
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| Hoffman’s Two-toed Sloth Jaguar Rescue Center, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
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| Red-lored Parrot Jaguar Rescue Center, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
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| Spectacled Caiman Jaguar Rescue Center, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica |
To learn more about Jaguar Rescue Center, click link for their website where you can read the history, find out when there are tours and how you can volunteer. It is operated mostly by volunteers!
And for more of my Costa Rica photos, see my gallery: Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA & SCROLL DOWN
Or more specifically my BIRDS PHOTO GALLERY or
My OTHER WILDLIFE PHOTO GALLERY
¡Pura Vida!
Amphibians & Reptiles Seen in Manzanillo
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| Red-eyed Tree Frog Manzanillo, Costa Rica |
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| Strawberry Dart Frog Manzanillo, Costa Rica |
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| Black & Green Dart Frog Manzanillo, Costa Rica |
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| Yellow Eyelash Pitviper Manzanillo, Costa Rica In a tree on the boardwalk path to my tent, but they avoid people! |
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| Yellow-headed Gecko Manzanillo, Costa Rica At the Ara Project |
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| Emerald Basilisk Manzanillo, Costa Rica My favorite lizard. Like a little dinosaur! |
See my AMPHIBIANS PHOTO GALLERY
And/or my REPTILES PHOTO GALLERY
Both are part of my larger “Charlie Doggett’s COSTA RICA” photo gallery
This post continues my report on a 4-night visit to Manzanillo in the South Caribbean area off Costa Rica about a week ago.