Rara Avis Rainforest jungle Lodge in Costa Rica for your jungle vacation package

Rara Avis
Rainforest Lodge & Reserve
 Costa Rica

Amphibians and Reptiles
of Rara Avis

Amphibians and Reptiles of Rara Avis

Welcome to the amphibians and reptiles section of the Rara Avis website. In tropical regions these animal groups have reached a dazzling variety of shapes, sizes, colors, and life styles. Just look at the picture of this Green Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) below to get an idea ! The herpetofauna (= all reptiles and amphibians combined) of Rara Avis is no different in its amazing diversity.
So far, we have recorded 102 species within the reserve - some are common and you can see them almost every day, but most are seen infrequently. In fact, some species living in Rara Avis are only known from less than 10 sightings ever !  Yes, we also have some venomous snakes, but this has never been a problem. It is probably more dangerous to drive your car to work than to hike through the rainforest in Rara Avis. If you wear boots and pants, and - most importantly - if you look where you put your hands and feet before actually doing so, you will be perfectly fine.

To give you an idea of what you might expect on your visit to Rara Avis we have posted a checklist of the amphibians and reptiles.

 

AMPHIBIANS (36 SPECIES)

Caecilians    
Purple Caecilian Gymnopis multiplicata  » gymnopis.jpg (8436 bytes)Limbless, eyeless and worm-like, caecilians are among the most featureless amphibians around. These interesting creatures live a burrowing life and are rarely seen. Only during strong rains they occasionally leave their burrows and surface.
   
Salamanders  
Alvarado's Salamander Bolitoglossa alvaradoi
Tree-climbing Salamander Bolitoglossa arborescandens  
Ridge-nosed Salamander Bolitoglossa colonnea  
      
Toads    
Variable Harlequin Frog Atelopus varius  
Green Climbing Toad Bufo coniferus marinus.jpg (13291 bytes)Bufo marinus, the Giant Toad, is a real giant and large individuals may weigh as much as 1.5 kg ! It is also a very toxic toad and has very few natural enemies because of that. In areas where this species has been introduced this has led to natural disasters - the toads eat almost anything that fits in their stomach.
Smooth-skinned Toad Bufo haematiticus
Giant Toad Bufo marinus  »
Wet Forest Toad Bufo melanochloris
Gulf Coast Toad Bufo valliceps
     
Glass Frogs    
Ghost Glass Frog Centrolenella ilex  
Fleischmann's Glass Frog Hyalinobatrachium fleischmanni  » glassfrog.jpg (6620 bytes)Glass Frogs owe their common name to the transparent skin on their belly. When seen from below, it is possible to observe the frog's intestines, including the beating of its heart and the circulation of its blood.
    
Poison-dart Frogs  
Strawberry Poison-dart Frog Dendrobates pumilio
Striped Poison-dart Frog Phyllobates lugubris  
      
Tree Frogs    
Red-eyed Leaf Frog Agalychnis callidryas  
Red-eyed Stream Frog Duellmannohyla uranochroa  
Hourglass Tree Frog Hyla ebraccata   » ebracata-thumb.jpg (5419 bytes) Hyla ebraccata is a small tree frog that is found in the lower parts of Rara Avis. It's call - a loud "creek-eek-eek"- can be heard on rainy nights around El Plastico.
Veined Tree Frog Hyla phlebodes
Boulenger's Tree Frog Scinax boulengeri
Olive Tree Frog Scinax elaeochroa
Masked Tree Frog Smilisca phaeota
Drab Tree Frog Smilisca sordida  
       
Leptodactylid Frogs    
Broad-headed Rain Frog Eleutherodactylus biporcatus  
Bransford's Litter Frog Eleutherodactylus bransfordii  
  Eleutherodactylus cerasinus  
Golden-groined Rain Frog Eleutherodactylus cruentus mimus-thumb.jpg (8035 bytes) Eleutherodactylus mimus is commonly called the Mimicking Rain Frog because it is so similar to Noble's Rain Frog (Eleutherodactylus noblei) that it took several decades before this particular species was recognized as a separate species.
Common Tink Frog Eleutherodactylus diastema
Common Rain Frog Eleutherodactylus fitzingeri
Mimicking Rain Frog Eleutherodactylus mimus   »
Noble's Rain Frog Eleutherodactylus noblei  
Pygmy Rain Frog Eleutherodactylus ridens   » ridens.jpg (8846 bytes) The Pygmy Rain Frog (Eleutherodactylus ridens) is a miniscule frog that spends most of its life in the tree tops. It is therefore not often seen, although they sometimes descend to near the forest floor. 
Black-backed Frog Leptodactylus melanonotus
Central American Bullfrog Leptodactylus pentadactylus
     
Narrow-mouthed Frogs    
Black Narrow-mouthed Frogs Nelsonophryne aterrima  
      warszewitschii.jpg (7482 bytes)At first glance, Rana warszewitschii is not a very exciting frog - plain brown and inconspicuous. However, when it jumps it displays the brilliant yellow spots on the back of its legs and the red underneath.
True Frogs  
Vaillant's Frog Rana vaillanti
Brilliant Forest Frog Rana warszewitschii   »

 

REPTILES (66 SPECIES)

Snapping Turtles    
Common Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina  
       
Mud Turtles    
White-lipped Mud Turtle Kinosternon leucostomum  
     
Gecko's   sphaerodactylus.jpg (6454 bytes)If you look at this picture it becomes clear why the geckos in the genus Sphaerodactylus are called 'dwarf geckos'. These miniature lizards inhabit cracks in the bark of jungle trees where they hunt for tiny insects.
Litter Gecko Lepidoblepharis xanthostigma
Brown Dwarf Gecko Sphaerodactylus homolepis
Spotted Dwarf Gecko Sphaerodactylus millepunctatus  »
Turnip Tail Gecko Thecadactylus rapicauda  
     
Casque-headed Iguanas    
Green Basilisk Basiliscus plumifrons  
Helmeted Iguana Corytophanes cristatus  
     
Anoles   biporcatus-thumb.jpg (6644 bytes)Green Tree Anoles (Norops biporcatus) are not always green. When disturbed or if put in direct sunlight they rapidly change color and develop a pattern of dark brown stripes and spots.
Giant Green Anole Dactyloa frenata
Giant Banded Anole Dactyloa insignis
Green Tree Anole Norops biporcatus  »
Pug-nosed Anole Norops capito
Ground Anole Norops humilis
Highland Anole Norops intermedius  
Canopy Anole Norops lemurinus  
Slender Anole Norops limifrons   » limifrons.JPG (6701 bytes)Slender Anoles (Norops limifrons) are among the most commonly seen lizards in Rara Avis
Stream Anole Norops oxylophus
Canopy Lizard Polychrus gutturosus
     
Skinks    
Bronze-backed Climbing Skink Mabuya unimarginata  
Litter Skink Sphenomorphus cherriei  
     
Whip-tailed Lizards   festiva.JPG (8900 bytes)Juvenile Central American Whip-tailed Lizards (Ameiva festiva) are easily recognized by their bright blue tail.
Central American Whip-tailed Lizard Ameiva festiva
   
Gymnophtalmid Lizards    
Bromeliad Lizard Anadia ocellata  
Keeled Leaf Litter Lizard Ptychoglossus plicatus  
     
Night Lizards    
Yellow-spotted Night Lizard Lepidophyma flavimaculatum  
     
Anguid Lizards    
Rainforest Celestus Celestus hylaius  
     
Boas   boa.JPG (6301 bytes)Boa constrictor is by far the largest snake in Rara Avis. Although impressive, they are completely harmless to humans. 
Boa constrictor Boa constrictor
   
Colubrid Snakes    
Ridge-nosed Snake Amastridium veliferum  
Lined Keeled Racer Chironius carinatus  
Green Keeled Racer Chironius exoletus  
Mussurana Clelia clelia  
Brown Debris Snake Coniophanes fissidens  
Lowland Forest Racer Dendrophidion vinitor  
Salmon-bellied Racer Dryadophis melanolomus drymobius.jpg (4602 bytes)Drymobius melanotropis is a rare snake and is only known from very few localities. It is one of the specialties of the Rara Avis herpetofauna.
Indigo Snake Drymarchon corais
Speckled Racer Drymobius margaritiferus
Lower Montane Green Racer Drymobius melanotropis  »
Diamond Racer Drymobius rhombifer  
False Coral Snake Erythrolamprus mimus  
Gray Earth Snake Geophis brachycephalus Imantode.jpg (5020 bytes)This super thin body and chunky head belongs undoubtedly to a bluntheaded vine snake of the genus Imantodes. The Brown Blunt-headed Vine Snake is not uncommon in Rara Avis, and this harmless species is regularly seen during night hikes.
Hoffman's Earth Snake Geophis hoffmani
Brown Blunt-headed Vine Snake Imantodes cenchoa  »
Tropical King Snake Lampropeltis triangulum
Satiny Parrot Snake Leptophis depressirostris
Bronze-striped Parrot Snake Leptophis nebulosus
Fire-bellied Snake Liophis epinephalus  
Spotted Wood Snake Ninia maculata  
Brown Vine Snake Oxybelis aeneus  
Short-nosed Vine Snake Oxybelis brevirostris  
Calico Snake Oxyrhopus petola  
Bird-eating Snake Pseustes poecilonotus  
Red-bellied Litter Snake Rhadinaea decorata  
Shovel-toothed Snake Scaphiodontophis annulatus  
Ringed Snail-eater Sibon annulatus  
Lichen-colored Snail-eater Sibon longifrenis  
Mottled Snail-eater Sibon nebulatus  
Tiger Rat Snake, Mica Spilotes pullatus xenodonrabdocephalus-small.jpg (7586 bytes)The False Fer-de-Lance (Xenodon rabdocephalus) closely resembles the  venomous Fer-de-Lance. Although it puts up an impressive show, these toad-eaters are not dangerous to humans.  
Degenhardt's Scorpion-eater Stenorrhina degenhardtii
Brown Centipede Snake Tantilla alticola
Striped Centipede Snake Tantilla reticulata
False Fer-de-Lance Xenodon rabdocephalus  »
     
Coral Snakes    
Allen's Coral Snake Micrurus alleni  
Bicolored Coral Snake Micrurus multifasciatus  
Central American Coral Snake Micrurus nigrocinctus  
    oropelsmall.jpg (6743 bytes)The yellow color form of Bothriechis schlegelii - the Eyelash Pitviper- is recorded once from Rara Avis. However, most individuals here are well-camouflaged in various shades of green and brown.
Pitvipers  
Fer-de-Lance Bothrops asper
Eyelash Pitviper Bothriechis schlegelii  »
Central American Bushmaster Lachesis stenophrys
Hog-nosed Pitviper Porthidium nasutum
  

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Toll Free 888.319.8233
Calls are to an authorized agency for  
Rara Avis Jungle Rainforest Lodge & Reserve
 Costa Rica
Not for direct contact with property

Rara Avis Rainforest jungle Lodge in Costa Rica for your jungle vacation package
Telephone number and e-mail is to a travel wholesaler agency authorized to represent all described services and properties and we are available to facilitate your reservation process. Direct access to hotels or services in country will not be made available. We can organized and customized your whole travel vacation. 

Page last up dated May 14, 2008

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