From Costa Rica, Snake Capital of the Americas

[Costa Rica Ray]

Hi all. Hope that title gets folks commenting, as its failry accorate, more snakes per capita or square mile then anywhere I think.

I live in CR now, ranch boy originally form US / Canada. If there are any snake experts here that are in Costa Rica, let me know please.

For those that don't know, "National Parks" abound in Costa Rica, and usually are relativly untouched jungle, highland or lowland rainforest, tropical forest, cloud forest, river area to mangrove estuaries, providing a wide ranging habitat, etc depending on elevation and area of the country.

I recently moved from the capital city, San Jose (around 3-5000 ft altitude), to a home buried in the middle of Carara National Park on the central pacific coast, the ocean view property we're developing is 300 hectares, 750 acres, and ranges from 300 ft elevation above sea level, to 2000 ft elevation, and contains multiple streams, waterfalls, and natural springs, one a good sized river that terminates in a 600 ft waterfall. of the 750 acres, 700 will always remain wild/unbuilt, private reserve.

I am by no means a snake expert, have caught 4 of the most venoumous here, the Terciolpelo, The Eyelash, the coral, and by accident in a net, a sea snake. but with this location that I am at, I will have ample opportunity to become an expert. I have heard there are some 139 species of snake in Costa Rica, 22 species are venomous and the remaining 117 species are non-venomous.

I helped set up the facebook page for https://www.facebook.com/CostaRicaHerpingAdventures

I am surorised that no matter how hard a dig, there is no single site with accrate pictures of all CR species. I am going to attempt to use every resource I can find on the Internet, or from other herping sites, or from local people here in Costa Rica, along with personal photos I'll take here in Costa Rica, to build an accurate, high resolution library of all 139 species.

and help with pictures or info, you can find me on Facebook (Raymond C James) or post to that Facebook page