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Due to its geographical location and its intertropical characteristics, Costa Rica is one of the countries that harbors the greatest biodiversity, accounting for 6% of the total worldwide. The anthropic impacts endured by the jungles and waters of the Costa Rican Caribbean Sea have endangered the survival of numerous animal species of Costa Rica.
If you are curious to know which animals live in Costa Rica, consult this article by Ecologist Verde, where you can consult the description of some of the Costa Rican species mentioned, as well as a list of animals of Costa Rica that are currently in danger of extinction.
Coati
The coatiNasua nasua), better known in Costa Rica as pizote, is a mammal widely distributed in South America, which lives mainly in coastal areas, in humid areas, tropical jungles, and cloud, cloud or cloud forests.
Its name is related to its physical appearance, since coatí in Guaraní means elongated nose, a feature that characterizes this animal. Their diet is omnivorous and they are very social animals, which tend to live in a community, unlike raccoons (Procyon lotor) with whom, despite not having any kinship relationship, it appears to have certain similarities.
Scarlet macaw or scarlet macaw
The scarlet macaw or scarlet macawAra macao) It is possible to find it from southern Mexico to Peru and Bolivia, including the Republic of Costa Rica. This bird, which is part of the parrot family (Psittacidae), is unmistakable for its long, pointed tail feathers and its striking colors (mainly red and bluish). Its diet is based on obtaining fleshy fruits and seeds, which characterizes its robust and small beak. It nests in tall trees and is distributed in mangroves, dry, humid and very humid forests.
Velvet snake
The velvet snake or yellow beardBothrops asper) present in Central and South America, it is one of the most dangerous animals in Costa Rica. This terrestrial and nocturnal reptile occupies a great variety of habitats (tropical rainforests, evergreen tropical forests, savannas, close to bodies of water), it reproduces at any time of the year and feeds on small mammals and reptiles, in the case of the adult specimens, and insects, during the juvenile phase.
Costa Rican crocodile
The American or Costa Rican crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) present in terrestrial, freshwater or marine ecosystems, it has a great variety of habitats, among which the coastal areas, lagoons, mangroves, rivers and lakes stand out.
East night super predator It feeds on fish, amphibians, turtles, water birds, and mammals. Its current state of conservation is vulnerable (VU) by the IUCN, with man being its main threat (illegal hunting).
Olive or olive ridley tortoise
The olive ridley or olive sea turtleLepidochelys olivacea) It is one of the 5 species of sea turtles that move to the waters of Costa Rica to nest (alone or in "arrivals") and spawn. It feeds on fish, mollusks and crustaceans.
It is one of the smallest and most abundant sea turtle species in the world, currently threatened (conservation status vulnerable by the IUCN) by urbanization, intentional and accidental hunting of specimens, pollution and extreme temperatures that are reached in the aquatic environment as a consequence of climate change.
sea cow
This marine animal is a national symbol of the fauna of Costa Rica. The sea cow (Trichechus manatus), also known as "sea cows", capable of living in fresh and salty waters, it is a mammal that can measure up to 4 meters and weigh 1 ton.
In Costa Rica it is possible to find it in the Tortuguero National Park and in the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge. Threatened by the scarcity of aquatic plants that serve as food, by their capture for the commercialization of meat and skins and by the pollution of the marine environment, this is one of the national animals of Costa Rica protected since 1953.
Other animals of Costa Rica
Besides Costa Rican animals already mentioned and described, among the wild animals of Costa Rica stand out:
- Guabina (Eleotris picta)
- Coconut flycatcher (Nesotriccus ridgwayi)
- Coconut finch (Pinaroloxias inornata)
- Lizard (Norops torosendii)
- Howler or howler monkey of the coast (Alouatta palliata)
- Leatherback turtleDermochelys coriaceous)
- Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
- Lemon Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus)
- Wild pig (Tayassu pecari)
- Mangrove Amazon Hummingbird (Amazilia boucardi)
- Jaguar (Panthera onca)
- Costa Rican Puma (Puma concolor costaricensis)
- White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
- Titi monkey (Saimiri oerstedii)
- Hairless foxDidelphis virginiana)
- Tapir (Tapirus bairdii)
- Kemp's ridley turtleLepidochelys kempii)
- Sloth (Choloepus didactylus)
In addition, although they are not very abundant, some of the endemic animals of Costa Rica are:
- Taltuza (Orthogeomys heterodus)
- Sack mouse (Heteromys oresterus)
- Harvest Mouse (Reithrodontomys rodriguezi)
- Distinguished hummingbird (Panterpe insignis)
- Gecko (Sphaerodactylus pacificus)
Animals in danger of extinction in Costa Rica
Highly threatened biodiversity leaves an important list of animals in Costa Rica that are in danger of extinction. Some of these native animals of Costa Rica, already mentioned in the previous sections, are:
- Congo monkey (Alouatta palliata)
- Leatherback turtleDermochelys coriacea)
- Lemon Green Macaw (Ara ambiguus)
- Jaguar (Panthera onca)
- Costa Rican Puma (Puma concolor costaricensis)
- Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis)
- Tapir (Tapirus bairdii)
- Titi monkey (Saimiri oerstedii)
- Sea cow (Trichechus manatus)
- Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao)
- Costa Rican crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)
- Olive ridley or olive sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
If you want to discover more about this interesting topic, here you can see information about the Flora and fauna of Costa Rica.
If you want to read more articles similar to Animals of Costa Rica, we recommend that you enter our Wild Animals category.
Bibliography- Updated Lists of the Fauna and Flora Species included in the CITES appendices, distributed in Central America and the Dominican Republic: http://www.caftadr-environment.org/spanish/outreach/publications/CITES%20Updated%20Fauna%20and% 20Flora% 20Species% 20 (Spanish) .pdf
