PDA

View Full Version : Costa Rica herps?


Bartman
11-02-04, 11:03 PM
Im going to Costa Rica around march with my boss from work. He is organizing a trip to go to the Caņo Palma Biological Station. We will be situated in the middle of a rainforest and surrounded my rivers, the beach, and the rainforest. Should be a hell of a time :D

My question was what sort of venemous snakes should I be on the look out for, and what other non ven reptiles can I expect to live there?

Thanks!


PS: Has anyone ever been to Costa rica?

ETET
11-04-04, 07:55 PM
I've been there in Mar this year for a week. But unusually this year we had lots of rain down there (coz March is always drier and easier for hiking to see animals), so we hiked through knee deep water and mud all the time. Fortunately, we were able to see some bothrops and quite a lot of non-ven, but I didn't see any lachesis as they are quite rare down there; for a whole list of animals you can read this book:

A Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of Costa Rica
by Twan Leenders

Hope this may help, although Cano Palma Biological Station has phone and internet access, there seems a lot of connection problems. I brought a satellite phone to keep contact with people everyday. Other than that, everything like food, people accomodation is great, Mario from the station is great and very helpful. Let me know if you need more info.

ETET

Bartman
11-04-04, 10:02 PM
Thanks so much!

So they have internet access, thats cool. Wasnt aware of that.

So is there a chance that if I go around just looking for things that ill run into something dangerous, or are the venemous rare. I just want to be sure so I dont get tagged by mistake.

I hope to find lots of cool stuff, and I plan to take a truck load of pictures :D

Ontario_herper
11-04-04, 10:12 PM
The main two venomous snakes you'll run into down there are Bothrops asper and Bothriechis schlegeli, asper being the more common of the two. I'd be more scared of the bull shark that lives just off the dock!

Check out Savage's guide to Costa Ricas herps..... it's the best!
There's a copy of it at the station.

I hope you like the heat!!!