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Tortuguero Costa Rica - March 2005
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In march 2005 I was graciously invited to join that Davidson College Herpetology Laboratory on another trip to Costa Rica. My undergraduate advisor, Dr. Mike Dorcas, has been conducting herpetological surveys of the Tortuguero region of Costa Rica (on the Northeast coast) for the past several years, and I have been lucky enough to go twice in the past. This trip, unlike past trips, was planned for the dry (relatively) season, so I looked forward to more reptiles, especially snakes. This was also a larger group which should mean more herps. Here's the crew at the start of the trip in San Jose (from left to right): me (J.D. Willson), Joy Hestor, Michelle Kirlin, Yurii Kornilev, Carlos Carerras, Steve Price, and Dr. Mike Dorcas. Also along (but apparently absent for the photo) were...
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Jessika Dorcas...
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...and Pierson Hill |
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After a long bumpy bus ride and about two hours by boat we finally arrive at our destination, the tiny waterfront town of Tortuguero. (photo by Joy Hester) |
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Along the way we saw several American Crocodiles (Crocodylus acutus). Unfortunately, only this small one sat still for a photo. (photo by Mike Dorcas) |
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We wasted no time in hitting some of the rainforest trails in the National Park. |
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The first herp to turn up was this white-lipped mud turtle (Kinosternon leucostomum) |
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Soon after, Yurii made a fantastic spot. A red-eyed treefrog (Agalychnis callidryas) asleep on a leaf |
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Photo by Joy Hester |
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Photo by Pierson Hill |
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Soon after, I was stooped examining a vine tangle when Pierson told me to freeze and look up. Not three feet from my face was a spectacular gold (orapel) phase Eyelash Pit Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii). I was ecstatic. Although we had found many eyelash vipers on previous trips, I had yet to see a gold one. What a great start to the trip! |
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Turning logs yielded several litter frogs (Eleutherodactylus bransfordii) |
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(Eleutherodactylus fitzingeri) |
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And a Litter Gecko (Lepidoblepharis xanthostigma) |
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Our next stop was a set of trails on higher ground across the river. At this site Strawberry Dart Frogs (Dendrobates pumelio) were everywhere... (photo by Pierson Hill) |
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Our guide spotted this snake basking in a branch pile. Neotropical Bird Snake (Pseustes poecilonotus), a species both Pierson and I had been hoping to find! |
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Returning to the boat, we were met by Yurii wearing a big smile. He had found this
Brown Vinesnake (Oxybelis aeneus)
right next to our boat. |
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That night we headed out onto the river. The water was lower than I had ever seen it and many small Spetacled Caimen (caimen crocodilus)
had left the flooded forest and were hanging out in vegetation along the river margin. Picking them off was a piece of cake.
(Photos by Joy Hester and Mike and Jessika Dorcas)
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Cruising along the shore, we spotted eyeshine from high up in a riverside palm. Pierson and I got out to investigate and found a cute Wooly Tree Opossum. Of course Pierson had to catch it... |
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Hopped up on adreneline from catching the possum, Pierson and I decided to take a crack at a bigger caimen. Although it proved to be more of a handful than we expected, we finally managed to get it aboard (although I almost lost a finger tip in the process). |
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Investigating more eyeshine along the shore, we found several huge Smoky Jungle Frogs (Leptadactylus pentadactylus). I had really been hoping to find this species and was very happy to see them. |
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Returning to the hotel, Peirson and I decided to use the last of our spotlight batteries to look around the hotel grounds. It was well worth it! Our first find was a Green Vinesnake (Oxybelis fulgidus), sleeping in a thick brush tangle. (1st photo by Pierson Hill)
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We now had a complete set of Costa Rican Oxybelis. |
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Soon after Pierson spotted this Clouded Snail Sucker (Sibon nebulatus) Foraging in a bush. |
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The nest morning we headed up a tributary of the main river to a small Canadian Reseach Station. (Photo by Joy Hester) |
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We hiked a trail at the station through wet rainforest. Metamorphing Green Climbing Toads (bufo coniferus) were abundant. |
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As were a variety of Anoles. (Norops humilis) |
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(Norops lemurinus) |
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(Norops limifrons) |
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(Norops pentaprion) |
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(Norops oxylophus) |
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We also were shown a couple of Eyelash Pit Vipers (Bothriechis schlegelii) that had been found by visitors at the research station that morning. |
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including this reddish individual |
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Later that afternoon we decided to walk the National Park trails again. I soon spotted another Eyelash Pit Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) in ambush posture. |
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Being in such a perfect pose, we decided to have a little fun by offering the viper an anole. It cooperated perfectly, allowing an amazing photo op... |
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Further down the trail Joy spotted this large Brown Forest Turtle (Rhinoclemys annulata). Pieson and I had walked right by it! |
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While walking through a streach of second-growth forest, Mike suddenly charged down the trail and emerged with a big smile and a small brown snake. After several hours of pouring over books and counting scale rows, we finally identified the snake as a rare species of litter snake (Urotheca pachyura). Although not impressive to look at, this was actually our "best" find of the trip as it had not been recorded from anywhere near Tortuguero. |
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Soon after I spotted another Eyelash Pit Viper (Bothriechis schlegelii) on a palm. I think I'm starting to get the search image down. |
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...and another. This time a juvenile, not much bigger than a quarter. |
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Throughout the week, we spent much time exploring around the hotel. Green iguanas (Iguana iguana) were commonly seen basking whenever the sun broke through.
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Pierson shot some photos of the beautiful wading birds that were abundant along the river margin. Yellow-Crowned Night Heron |
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Bare-Throated Tiger Heron |
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After barely missing a small Speckeled Racer (Drymobius margaritiferus), I managed to grab a beautiful parrot snake Parrot Snake (Leptophis ahaetulla) basking on seaside brush. (photo by Jessika Dorcas) |
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Photo by Pierson Hill |
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Pierson and I finally managed to noose a large male Green Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons).
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ON the last day of our trip we decided to hike up the only high ground in the region, locally known as "the Cerro" meaning "Hill". At the base, we found several Litter Skinks (Sphenomorphus cherriei).
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I shown my flashlight down a hollow log along the trail, only to spot this massive scorpion. Of course Pierson was compelled to pick it up.
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Several crazy-looking caterpillers were also found along the trail. This one, we all decided, should be smoking a hooka. |
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This one was a snake mimic, even down to the forked tounge . |
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Our final new find of the trip was this beautiful Dwarf Gecko (Spherodactylus homeolepis)on a tree trunk near the top of the Cerro. |
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The view from the top of the Cerro was breathtaking, offering a fitting finale to a wonderful trip. |
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Species List:
Anurans
Agalychnis callidryas
Smilisca baudinii
Scinax elaeochroa
Leptodactylus pentadactylus
Eleuthrodactylus diastema
Eleuthrodactylus fitzingeri
Eleuthrodactylus bransfordii
Bufo marinus
Bufo coniferus
Rana vaillanti
Dendrobates pumilio
Lizards
Gonatodes albogularis
Hemidactulus frenatus
Hemidactylus garnotii
Lepidoblepharis xanthostigma
Thecadactylus rapicauda
Spherodactylus homeolepis
Lepidophyma flavamaculatum
Ameiva festiva
Ameiva quadralineata
Norops intermedius
Norops humilis
Norops oxylophus
Norops limifrons
Norops lemurinus
Norops pentaprion
Norops biporcatus
Iguana Iguana
Basciliscus plumifrons
Basciliscus vittatus
Spenomorphus cherrei
Turtles
Kinosternon leucostoma
Rhinoclemmys funerea
Rhinoclemmys annulata
Trachemys ornata
Snakes
Bothriechis schlegelii – 8
Leptophis ahaetulla – 1
Oxybelis fugidus – 1
Oxybelis aeneus – 1
Sibon nebulatus – 1
Pseustes poecilonotus – 1
Urotheca pachyura – 1
Crocodilians
Caiman crocodylus
Crocodylus acutus
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