COSTA RICA: Day Five – Fauna

After breakfast, commence volunteer work as directed.  Lunch provided then back to assignment.  Another day of volunteering means an opportunity to discuss the amazing fauna of Costa Rica. 

The Wildlife of Costa Rica comprises all naturally occurring animals, fungi and plants that reside in this Central American country.  Costa Rica supports an enormous variety of wildlife, due in large part to its geographic position between the North and South American continents, its neotropical climate, and its wide variety of habitats.

Costa Rica is considered to possess the highest density of biodiversity of any country worldwide.  While encompassing just one third of a percent of Earth’s landmass, approximately the size of West Virginia, Costa Rica contains four percent of species estimated to exist on the planet. 

Poison Arrow Frog 

Brown Basilisk

Red Devil Cichlid

Hundreds of these species are endemic to Costa Rica, meaning they exist nowhere else on earth.  These endemic species include frogs, snakes, lizards, finches, hummingbirds, gophers, mice, cichlids, and gobies among many more.

White-headed Capuchin

White-nosed Coati

  

Tayra

Costa Rica is home to nearly 250 species of mammal.  Medium-sized forest-dwelling mammals are often the most appreciated mammalian fauna of the country.  These include four species of monkeys such as the frantic White-headed Capuchin and noisy Mantled Howlers; two species of sloths; the opportunistic White-nosed Coati; and the fierce predator, the Tayra.

Scintillant Hummingbird

White Pelican

894 bird species have been recorded in Costa Rica, more than all of the United States and Canada combined.   Seven of the Costa Rican species are considered endemic, and 19 are globally threatened.  Costa Rica's birds range in size from the Scintillant Hummingbird to the White Pelican.

Dinner and overnight stay with host family. 

Let me know your thoughts!  Volunteer with Go Mo Places