Nature
Forests
Biodiversity
Insects
Amphibians
Reptiles
Mammals
– Felines
Birds
Costa Rica, situated in Central America, spans an area of about 51,100 km². Famous for its rich biodiversity, the country boasts lush tropical forests that cover more than half its land. Recognized as one of the most biodiverse nations globally, Costa Rica is home to over 500,000 species of plants and animals.
During the 1980s, Costa Rica faced the world’s highest deforestation rate, with less than 25% of its original forests intact. Remarkably, through progressive policies and sustainable land-use initiatives, the country not only reversed deforestation but also restored over half of its land to forest cover. Today, Costa Rica stands as a global model, successfully halting biodiversity loss and achieving reforestation while simultaneously fostering economic growth.
Costa Rica earned the prestigious United Nations Earthshot Prize for its remarkable achievements in addressing environmental challenges and advancing sustainable development initiatives.
Costa Rica is celebrated for its lush tropical forests, which blanket over half of the nation’s land. The diverse landscape includes rainforests, deciduous forests, cloud forests, mangroves, and the stunning Atlantic and Pacific coastlines.
Costa Rica’s tropical rainforests rank among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth, teeming with an incredible array of plant and animal species. Defined by their warm, humid climate, these forests maintain an average temperature of 27°C and receive consistent rainfall year-round. One standout destination is the rainforest within Tortuguero National Park, a protected area in the province of Limón. This vibrant sanctuary is a haven for both migratory and native bird species, including toucans, parrots, and kingfishers.
Costa Rica’s deciduous forests, found mainly in the Pacific region, are unique ecosystems that shed their leaves during the dry season. These vibrant forests host an incredible diversity of wildlife and plant life. Known for their dry broadleaf trees, they are home to impressive large mammals and an abundance of colorful flowering plants.
Costa Rica’s Atlantic and Pacific coasts are home to diverse forest ecosystems. In the central region, cloud forests thrive in a cool, humid climate, offering a unique environment for various species. Along the Pacific coast, mangrove forests provide crucial habitats for marine life, playing a key role in the country’s biodiversity.
The Wildlife of Costa Rica thrives due to the country’s diverse ecosystems, ranging from tropical rainforests and deciduous forests to cloud forests, mangroves, and coastal regions along both the Atlantic and Pacific. This incredible biodiversity encompasses a rich array of animals, plants, and fungi that flourish across Costa Rica’s vibrant landscapes.
Costa Rica boasts an extraordinary diversity of wildlife, thanks to its strategic location between North and South America, its tropical climate, and its varied ecosystems. With over 500,000 species—accounting for nearly 5% of the world’s estimated species—Costa Rica ranks among the top 20 most biodiverse countries on the planet. Remarkably, over 300,000 of these species are insects. A key factor behind this richness is the natural land bridge formed by Costa Rica and present-day Panama three to five million years ago, which facilitated the exchange of unique plants and animals between the two continents.
Biodiversity
Costa Rica boasts the highest biodiversity density of any nation on Earth. Despite occupying just a tiny fraction of the planet’s surface—about one-thirtieth—this small Central American country harbors an impressive 4% of all known species. Among its rich array of wildlife, hundreds of species are unique to Costa Rica, found nowhere else in the world. These endemic creatures include vibrant frogs, snakes, lizards, finches, hummingbirds, rodents, mice, cichlids, gobies, and many more.
Costa Rica is home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each recognized for its extraordinary natural beauty and ecological significance. These include
The Talamanca Range – La Amistad Reserves / International Friendship Park (declared in 1983)
The Cocos Island National Park (declared in 1997)
The Guanacaste Conservation Area (designated in 1999).
Costa Rica’s remarkable biodiversity stems from its wide array of ecosystems. Within its 19,730 square miles, the country boasts tropical rainforests, deciduous forests, cloud forests, mangroves, and both Atlantic and Pacific coastlines. Encompassing twelve distinct climatic zones, these ecological regions provide countless habitats, fostering an incredible variety of species.
Benefits for Humanity
Costa Rica serves as a global model for biodiversity conservation in developing nations. Over 27% of its land is safeguarded through national parks, wildlife refuges, forest reserves, and other protected areas. Recognizing the vital ecological services biodiversity offers, the Costa Rican government takes proactive measures to preserve it. A 5% tax on gasoline generates funding to compensate landowners for avoiding deforestation and establishing tree plantations instead. This initiative encourages Costa Ricans, affectionately known as “Ticos,” to embrace tree cultivation over cattle ranching. The implementation of agroforestry systems not only supports sustainable land use but also creates habitats for wildlife, enabling biodiversity to thrive alongside human activities.
Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity plays a vital role in the ecological services that sustain life. The diverse array of plants and animals supports essential processes like water purification, food production, energy resources, fiber production, biochemical creation, nutrient cycling, pollination, seed dispersal, and climate regulation. Greater species diversity enhances the efficiency and resilience of these natural systems.
Costa Rica’s rich biodiversity has significantly contributed to its economic growth, with ecotourism generating an impressive $1.92 billion annually. Defined as tourism focused on exploring and conserving exotic, often endangered natural environments while observing wildlife, ecotourism thrives in this nature-rich nation. For 39% of visitors, Costa Rica’s natural beauty is the main draw, making it a top destination for nature enthusiasts. The success of the ecotourism industry motivates businesses to prioritize the protection and preservation of natural resources, fostering sustainable practices over exploitation.
Threats to Biodiversity
Costa Rica’s biodiversity faces significant threats from a rapidly expanding human population, coastal development driven by tourism, and unsustainable agricultural practices that lead to pollution and environmental harm. Among these challenges, deforestation remains the most critical issue. The country has one of the highest deforestation rates globally, with approximately 4% of its forested areas lost annually. The primary driver of this deforestation is land clearing for cattle ranching. Additionally, practices like monoculture farming further degrade ecosystems, creating landscapes with limited plant species. This decline in plant diversity inevitably impacts animal populations, reducing overall biodiversity.
Insects
Butterflies and Moths
There are approximately 1,251 species of butterflies and at least 8,000 species of moths. Butterflies and moths are common year-round but are more abundant during the rainy season. 10% of the world’s known butterfly species reside in Costa Rica.
Costa Rican butterflies and moths have developed remarkable adaptations to their environment. For example, swallowtail caterpillars mimic bird droppings, and many others have bright colors to warn predators of their body toxins. What someone might easily mistake for a butterfly, a wasp, or a leaf in Costa Rica could actually be a moth engaged in Müllerian or Batesian mimicry.
Ecotourism is one of Costa Rica’s main economic resources, and the country’s butterflies greatly contribute to it. They bring life to tropical forests, not only with their diversity of colors but also with the magnificence of the flowers they help pollinate.
Some common butterflies and moths in Costa Rica include:
Costa Rica is home to a diverse array of fascinating insects, including stingless bees (Melipona g.), sweat bees like Lasioglossum figueresi and Lasioglossum aeneiventre, and industrious ants such as leafcutter ants (Atta g. and Acromyrmex g.) and army ants. The country also boasts an impressive variety of orthopteran insects, including locusts and crickets from the Tettigoniidae family (Ensifera).
Hercules Beetle (Dynastes hercules)
Other Invertebrates
Invertebrates dominate Costa Rica’s wildlife, accounting for the vast majority of its estimated 500,000 species—around 493,000 of which are invertebrates, including spiders and crabs. Tens of thousands of insects and microscopic invertebrates thrive across various terrains and altitudes, though many remain overlooked or unidentified.
The country is also home to 183 documented species and subspecies of terrestrial gastropods, along with a diverse array of freshwater gastropods and bivalves.
Amphibians
Red-Eyed Tree Frog (Agalychnis callidryas)
Costa Rica hosts an incredible diversity of amphibians, with around 175 species, 85% of which are frogs. Among them are 35 species of Eleutherodactylus frogs, 26 species of Hyla frogs, numerous species from the Dendrobatidae family, and 13 species of stunning glass frogs (Centrolenidae).
Costa Rica is home to several remarkable toad species, including ten types of Bufo g. toads and the giant toad (Rhinella marina), a large amphibian with a famously insatiable appetite. This species is known to consume a wide variety of food, such as vegetables, ants, spiders, smaller toads, mice, and other small mammals. Beyond frogs, Costa Rica also hosts approximately 40 species of Plethodontidae salamanders and two species of Caecilians sp..
The size of amphibians in the country varies greatly, ranging from the tiny rainforest dweller Silverstoneia flotator, which measures just 1.5 cm, to the much larger Leptodactylus pentadactylus, which can reach up to 18 cm. All three amphibian orders are represented in Costa Rica: Apoda (caecilians), Urodela (salamanders and newts), and Anura (frogs and toads). Unfortunately, due to environmental degradation and their sensitivity to pollution, many amphibian populations in the region have declined, with some species facing extinction.
The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve is a vital sanctuary for certain species within the Anura order. However, since 1987, an estimated 40% of the Anura species in this reserve—amounting to 20 species of frogs and toads—have disappeared.
Since 1989, the golden toad (Bufo periglenes) has not been seen in its limited habitat within the central mountain ranges of Costa Rica. In just one year, the population at its primary breeding site plummeted from over 1,500 juveniles to a single individual. Although the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) classifies the species as critically endangered, the absence of sightings for more than 20 years suggests it is likely extinct.
The potential extinction of toads is believed to result from a combination of factors, including severe El Niño weather patterns causing droughts, heightened environmental pollution, climate change, and the spread of an invasive fungal species.
Amphibians in Costa Rica have evolved various survival strategies to adapt to these challenges. For instance, certain species of frogs, like poison dart frogs, have adapted by laying their eggs in water sources devoid of predatory fish. This often involves depositing eggs in tiny water pools within leaf litter and later relocating them to bromeliads. Some species have also developed the ability for direct development, where the frog matures entirely within the egg, bypassing the tadpole stage. This adaptation minimizes exposure to predators, allowing the frog to emerge fully developed and better equipped for survival.
Reptiles
Eyelash Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii)
Costa Rica is home to around 225 reptile species, including over 70 types of lizards. Many of these are small anoles that thrive in forested areas. Among the more noticeable reptiles are larger lizards like the striped basilisk, black iguana, and green iguana, which are some of the most frequently spotted in the region.
The country is home to approximately 120 snake species, featuring five impressive boas and an extensive range of non-venomous colubrids.
Boa constrictor imperator, photographed in the Gandoca Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge
Approximately 20 venomous snake species can be found, including coral snakes like the coral macho (Micrurus nigrocinctus), rattlesnakes such as the cascabel (Crotalus simus), and a variety of vipers, such as the common eyelash viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) and the terciopelo (Bothrops asper). Among these, two imposing bushmasters stand out, including the mute rattlesnake, also known as the matabuey (Lachesis stenophrys).
In Costa Rica, poisonous snakes can typically be observed safely as long as a respectful distance is maintained.
Costa Rica is home to a remarkable diversity of reptiles, including five of the world’s seven species of sea turtles that nest along its pristine beaches. The country also hosts two crocodilian species: the widely distributed spectacled caiman and the formidable American crocodile, known for its impressive size and occasional danger. The nation’s reptiles span an incredible range of sizes, from the delicate Hallowell’s centipede snake of the Tantilla genus, measuring just 15 cm (6 inches), to the enormous leatherback turtle (Dermochelys coriacea), which can weigh up to 500 kg (1,100 pounds) and reach lengths of 150 cm (60 inches).
Mammals
Costa Rica boasts an impressive diversity of nearly 250 mammal species, making it a haven for wildlife enthusiasts. Among the most admired are medium-sized forest mammals, which include four monkey species: the energetic white-headed capuchin (Cebus capucinus) and the boisterous mantled howler (Alouatta palliata). Other notable inhabitants are two species of sloths, the adaptable white-nosed coati, and the formidable tayra, a skilled predator.
Remarkably, bats account for more than half of the mammal species in Costa Rica, outnumbering rodents by a significant margin. These fascinating creatures exhibit a wide range of foraging strategies and diets, feeding on nectar, fish, insects, and even blood, as exemplified by vampire bats. Among the most striking are the tiny white bat and the massive spectral bat, also known as the false vampire, which holds the title of the largest bat in the Americas.
Large wildlife, including tapirs, jaguars, and deer, are seldom seen due to their elusive nature and reliance on pristine, increasingly fragmented habitats.
Costa Rica’s mammals range in size from the tiny 3-gram bat, Furipterus horrens, to the massive 250-kilogram Baird’s tapir.
Anteaters are frequently found in the lowland and mid-altitude regions of Costa Rica. Among the three species native to the country, the most commonly spotted is the Tamandua mexicana. The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) stands out for its impressive size but is sadly endangered. The third species is the elusive and small silky anteater (Cyclopes didactylus).
Caribbean manatee, also known as the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus Linnaeus, 1758), is a marine mammal belonging to the Trichechidae family. This species is native to the Atlantic coastlines of Central America and is currently listed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN.
Felini (wild cats)
Costa Rica is home to a diverse range of wild cats, including jaguars, ocelots, margays, pumas, jaguarundis, and tigrillos (spotted cats).
In Costa Rica, many large cats are nocturnal or spend their time hidden in the rainforest canopy, like the margay. Ocelots, on the other hand, typically hunt on the ground at night and rarely climb trees. Their diet includes birds, monkeys, rats, and other small animals. The tigrillo, the smallest wild cat in the region, is no larger than a domestic cat and inhabits cloud forests at elevations of up to 3,200 meters. The jaguarundi, with its sleek body and plain gray coat, resembles a mix between a cat and a weasel. It hunts both during the day and at night and has adapted remarkably well to human-altered environments. The margay spends most of its life in the treetops, while the puma, the second-largest feline in Central America, has a solid brown, unspotted coat.
The jaguar (Panthera onca), the largest feline in Costa Rica, can reach lengths of up to 2 meters. These majestic creatures are increasingly rare in the region, with their population facing a severe and ongoing decline.
Birds
Yigüirro (Turdus grayi), the national bird of Costa Rica
Costa Rica, including Cocos Island, is home to an impressive 941 recorded bird species—surpassing the combined total found in the United States and Canada. Among these, over 600 species are year-round residents, while more than 200 are migratory, spending part of the year in regions like North America.
Costa Rica is home to seven endemic bird species and 19 that are globally threatened. The country’s avian diversity spans from the tiny, vibrant hummingbird, weighing just 2.2 grams and measuring 6 cm (2.4 inches), to the towering jabiru (Jabiru mycteria), which weighs 6.5 kg and stands at an impressive 150 cm.
The Scarlet Macaws (Ara macao)
Macaws are a well-known species in Costa Rica. Unlike many other birds, they form lifelong monogamous pairs. Both parents work together to care for their young, nurturing the chicks for up to two years before they leave the nest. However, macaws face significant threats, particularly due to their high demand in the pet trade.
The magnificent quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno costaricensis), a striking trogon species, is also native to parts of Costa Rica. Known for its long gray and black tail feathers, which can reach up to a meter in length, this bird is a true spectacle of the cloud forests. Primarily active in the canopy, quetzals can be observed in several Costa Rican parks and reserves, such as the Monteverde Cloud Forest, Santa Elena Cloud Forest Reserve, Braulio Carrillo National Park, Poás Volcano National Park, Chirripó National Park, and Juan Castro Blanco National Park. Their diet includes fruits, insects, small frogs, lizards, and snails, and they are recognized by their unique echoing calls. Sadly, the quetzal is endangered, largely due to the extensive loss of its rainforest habitat throughout Central America.
Hummingbirds exhibit remarkable adaptations in the shape and size of their beaks, tailored to their feeding needs. Certain species possess uniquely shaped beaks that enable them to access nectar from specific flowers. This mutualistic relationship benefits both the bird and the plant, as the hummingbird gains nourishment while facilitating pollen transfer between plants. By adapting to particular plants, hummingbirds help ensure precise pollination, promoting the reproduction of the right plant species.
The mangrove hummingbird (Amazilia boucardi), found exclusively in Costa Rica, relies on its distinctively shaped beak to feed predominantly on the nectar of tea mangrove flowers (Pelliciera rhizophorae).
Excerpt from Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_of_Costa_Rica
