Wildlife - Although this Web page must limit its description of the abundance and diversity of Costa Rica's wildlife, another word on the country's amazing avian and animal wealth. Costa Rica has long been famous among serious birdwatchers, but many people who would never consider the activity at home become quickly interested in the country's spectacular diversity of birds. With 848 species of birds - more than in all of North America and Mexico - packed into an area half the size of Kentucky, it's hard not to become enthused about the variety of feathered creatures one encounters in Costa Rica.
There are a dazzling 57 species of hummingbirds and their flower flitting relatives, 16 different species of parrots, several species of toucans and their cousins, colorful trogons and spectacularly colorful creatures like the scarlet macaw and the resplendent quetzal, which many consider the most beautiful bird in the world. One of the reasons for this extraordinary avian wealth is the country's great variety of habitats: rain forests, mangrove swamps, beaches, cloud forests, rivers, lakes... the list goes on. And any two of these ecosystems, with their resident bird species, are often only a short distance apart.
The coasts, especially the Pacific, are alive with seabirds. It's easy to spot pelicans, terns sandpipers and magnificent frigatebirds. Wetlands are home to an even more impressive variety, including long-legged waders like the heron, ibis, spoonbill and the country's largest bird: the jabiru stork. Rain forests harbor an even greater variety, ranging from tiny hummingbirds to the bulky guans and curassows. The melodic oropendolas are common in many parts, and their colonies of hanging nests can be spotted in the crowns of large trees. But the star attractions are the noisy parrots, parakeets and toucans, and especially the spectacular scarlet macaws, which can be seen in Carara Biological Reserve and Corcovado National Park.
Though the bird population is impressive, there are lots of other exciting and interesting animals to be found in Costa Rica. The country is home for 237 species of mammals, 361 species of reptiles and amphibians, 10 percent of the world's butterfly species and more types of insects than the biologist can count.
The most exotic rain-forest creatures are probably the big mammals, like the jaguar and tapir, but those animals are so rare a-and secretive that only the luckiest tourists ever catch a glimpse of them. But there is plenty out there that's not too tough to see... Monkeys are among the most entertaining animals in the forest, and Costa Rica has four species, of which you're bound to spot a few: the noisy howler, the rambunctious spider, the cute capuchin, and the adorable squirrel monkey, which is only found in Manuel Antonio and Corcovado National Parks. Other mammals include the armadillo, which looks like a tiny tank, the agouti and paca, two terrier sized jungle rodents, a-and two types of anteaters. The most impressive lizards are the crocodiles, which can grow as long as 15 feet. However, as massive as the crocs may be, the largest reptile in the world is the leatherback sea turtle, which nests on Playa Grande and on others beaches at night.
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