Costa Rica Biodiversity
Costa Rica, a landmass encompassing only .03% of the earth’s surface, contains 5% of earth’s biodiversity- a density that is unmatched anywhere else in the world. Aside from arid regions in Guanacaste, Costa Rica is green and lush year round. Its thick forests, vast wetlands, and misty mountains teem with life.
Much of what enables Costa Rica’s biodiversity to remain intact is strong environmental education among its citizens and visitors, helping everyone to understand the significance of the natural world and the importance of sustained stewardship of its sensitive ecosystems.
Although it would take a lifetime for any individual to witness the full range of Costa Rica’s biodiversity, we hope this section of our website provides interesting insight into some of Costa Rica’s many natural treasures. We have composed a series of species profiles that describe habitats and natural history. Obviously, there are too many species for us to cover them all, but we are continuing to expand our mammal, sea mammal, reptile, and amphibian profiles. In the near future we hope to also include insects, trees, and plants.
Birds of Costa Rica
Costa Rica has long been a top destination for bird enthusiasts. Those looking for exquisite avifauna will not be disappointed. The plumage of a single bird species can vary with sex, age, and time of year. Such variability, combined with high species diversity, means that bird watching tours in any part of the country will likely result in shows of spectacular plumage. Costa Rica’s mainland and territorial waters host more than 840 species. If Coco Island and its surrounding waters are included, the number jumps to more than 850. |
Sea Mammals of Costa Rica
More than twenty species of dolphin and whale may find their way through Costa Rican waters. Nearly ten species are reliably found at different times of year. Large marine mammals of the order Cetacea (whales and dolphins) are usually migratory. However, coasts of equatorial land pose an attractive destination or detour. Shallow reef areas, such as those on the Caribbean or Southern Pacific coasts of Costa Rica, provide valuable sighting areas for marine wildlife. Creatures living in the reef and visitors that come to feed present a fascinating and impressive sight. |
Mammals of Costa Rica
While you walk through the forests of Costa Rica, many mammals rustle through the undergrowth and swing aloof in the canopy, but not all are easily visible. Night hikes sometimes offer better opportunities for spotting the forests mammals. In total, Costa Rica’s tropics provide a home for more than 200 mammal species. |
|---|---|---|
Amphibians of Costa Rica
Some of the most exciting colors found in Costa Rican wildlife are granted by amphibians. This small country boasts 174 species and encountering any of them is an enchanting moment. A visit can be defined by the unforgettable instant of looking a Tree Frog in the eye or marveling at the bright intensity of a Brilliant Forest Frog. Some, like the Tink Frog and Milk Frog, have distinct songs that carry through the forest. |
Reptiles of Costa Rica
The reptiles of Costa Rica are full of surprises. Power and beauty are more harmonious in few species than in the iridescent coils of the Boa Constrictor; speed and style in the evasive maneuvers of the Basilisk; or drive and grace in the sweeping acrobatics of the Green Turtle. |
Costa Rica Invertebrates
While crocodiles and bellbirds and howlers are popular wildlife attractions in Costa Rica, insects and their relatives are show-stoppers of beauty and fascination. For the most part, bugs, beetles, and arachnids don’t deserve their bad reputations as “slimy,” or “germy,” or “dull.” On the contrary, invertebrates take so many shapes and colors with armor and scales and wings that the variety seems endless, and insects and their relatives provide such cause for wonder and interest in the Tropics that a trip here would be worthwhile just to see them in person. Costa Rica’s invertebrates (or, creatures without bones, like butterflies, crabs, or centipedes) far outnumber all the other animals that can be found in the country. Just think: there are more kinds of butterflies here than mammals. Many invertebrates in Costa Rica startle visitors with their breathtaking colors, such as the famous Blue Morpho, and many construct captivating homes, such the Golden Orb. |
