May 27, 2018 - Costa Rica - Reptiles

One of the reptiles we saw in Costa Rica was this Basilisk Lizard. It’s a member of the Iguana family and can be up to 2½ feet long, including the tail. It is also known as the “Jesus Christ Lizard” because it can walk on water. Aided by the long, partially webbed toes on its back feet, it stays on the surface by moving rapidly in an upright position and slapping its back feet against the water.

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Here’s a closer look at a Basilisk Lizard. These photos were taken while on a Sarapiqui River cruise.

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The only reason we saw this Blue Jeans Poison Dart Frog at the Sarapiqui Rain Forest Lodge was because one of our guides heard it calling. He found it under the leaf layer and carefully brought it out for us to see. It is poisonous, but not as much as the ones used by natives in other countries to rub on the tips of arrows. However, if you touch one of these frogs, you should be sure to wash your hands so you don’t get the poison in your eyes or on an open wound.

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Our boat trip on the Tarcoles River gave us several sightings of Crocodiles. This was one of the biggest ones. The narrow snout is one of the ways to distinguish a Crocodile from an Alligator which has a rounded snout.

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This Whip-tailed Lizard was well hidden in the grass at Arenal Manoa Hotel in San Carlos.

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This Eyelash Palm Pit Viper was clinging to the side of a tree at the Arenal Volcano Observation Area in La Fortuna. At only 2 ½ feet long, it is one of the smallest venomous snakes in Central America. They eat small mammals, birds, lizards, and frogs and don’t usually attack humans unless they are disturbed.

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