Costa Rica

Most Iconic Animals

The strikingly colored red-eyed tree frog is also called the gaudy leaf frog.

Capuchin monkeys are widely recognized as the most intelligent New World monkey.

Costa Rica’s macaw has scarlet-colored plumage with light blue accents on their tails.

American Crocodiles

The American crocodile can be seen gliding along lowland rivers or sunning on muddy banks.
Anteaters

Costa Rica has three anteater species which inhabit rainforest and grassland habitats.
Baird's Tapirs

A Baird’s tapir looks like a cross between a rhinoceros, horse and elephant.
Basilisk Lizards

Three basilisk lizard species -- common, brown and emerald -- live in Costa Rica.
Bats

Of the approximate 1,100 bat species on Earth, 110 of them are found in Costa Rica.
Blue Jeans Poison Dart Frogs

The tiny blue jeans poison dart frog is one of Costa Rica’s most iconic amphibians.
Blue-Crowned Motmots

The blue-crowned motmot is the most common of the six species living in Costa Rica.
Boat-Billed Herons

The boat-billed heron is a solitary species found in mangrove swamps and near freshwater.
Brown Pelicans

The world's smallest pelican species, this bird is common on Costa Rica's Pacific coast.
Butterflies

Costa Rica’s butterfly species make up approximately 90% of all Central American butterflies.