Tropical Nature

From the Caribbean and Pacific coasts of Costa Rica, to locations throughout the Caribbean islands.

A delicate looking glass frog (family Centrolenidae) perched on a camera lens in the wet rainforest of Costa Rica, just along the banks of the Sarapiquí River. Green from above, the underside of these animals is transparent, showing the bones, heart,
A tiny Glass Frog (Centrenidae) on a leaf in a rainstorm in the rainforest of Costa Rica. These little fellows come out during the night rains to lay their eggs.
A Red-webbed Tree Frog (Hypsiboas rufitelus) in the wet rainforest in Costa Rica (though it was being less cooperative in showing off its striking toes).
Continuing the theme of tiny frogs, another species of leaf litter frog (again fully grown) found while walking through the undergrowth in the wet rainforest of Costa Rica. The world’s smallest known vertebrate is a frog species from Papua New Guinea
A female Green-Crowned Brilliant (Heliodoxa jacula) sticking her tongue out while resting among the foliage in Costa Rica.
Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) hunting Male Ringed Kingfisher (Megaceryle torquata) hunting above a river in the rainforest in Costa Rica.
Female Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) in the mountains in Costa Rica.
A male Black-throated Trogon (Trogon rufus) in wet rainforest on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.
Male Resplendent Quetzal (Pharomachrus mocinno) in the mountains in Costa Rica.
A male Black-throated Trogon (Trogon rufus) in wet rainforest on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast.
A Clay-colored Thrush (Tutsis grayi) the National Bird of Costa Rica. Not particularly colorful compared to most neotropical birds, this bird was instead chosen as a symbol of the country for its song that occurs at the start of the wet season.
NOTE: This animal is being handled by a trained bat biologist. Hot, humid, and ringing with the cacophony of tropical insects and frogs, we set out with a local bat biologist to learn about her work in the rainforests of Costa Rica as part of a fiel
Green basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons), in the wet rain forest on Costa Rica’s Caribbean side. These animals are also commonly known as the “Jesus Lizard” for their ability to run across water for short distances.
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Farallon Islands NWR