Costa Rica & Panama

The first country of our Little Big Year is the incredible Costa Rica. We had such a great time there a few years ago, and there is also so much that we didn't see yet, that we decided to go here first.

30th of July 2025

What a weird sensation to leave home and knowing you won't be back there for more than a year! With heads full of anxiety over stuff we might have forgotten, but also dreams of all the upcoming adventures we left home behind. The world is ahead! Our first leg of the trip would bring us from Munich to Atlanta where we had a long stopover before flying to San Jose the next day. We had an incredibly smooth journey and before we knew it, we were in the car with new herping buddy Todd Pierson and his dog Chingón. We dropped of the luggage at his apartment and explored a nearby park. Within seconds we found the first salamanders such as Southern Two-lined Salamander (Eurycea cirrigera), Three-lined Salamander (Eurycea guttolineata), Talladega Seal Salamander (Desmognathus cheaha) and Chattooga Dusky Salamander (Desmognathus perlapsus). Around a lake we saw several Pond Sliders (Trachemys scripta), Bull Frogs (Lithobates catesbeianus) and an American Five-lined Skink (Plestiodon fasciatus). For dinner we had fabulous hamburgers and also got some relief from the soaring temperatures as a heavy downpour cooled things down a bit. When the rains stopped we did more urban herping and easily found several green reptiles such as Green Anoles (Anolis carolinensis) and Rough Green Snakes (Opheodrys aestivus) sleeping in the vegetation. What a fantastic start of our trip! Thanks a lot Todd and Natalia for the amazing hospitality and hope to see you guys again soon!

31st of July 2025 until the 10th of August 2025

An early morning flight brought us from Atlanta to San Jose where things went incredibly smooth again. Except for one thing. My luggage has a habit of staying behind, and also this time that was the case. At least I didn't have to drag it around on the first day and the airport staff said it would arrive on the next flight and then be delivered to our accommodation. Which was also the case luckily!

In the Sarapiquí area we had 10 days in total, 4 nights in an ecolodge and 6 nights in an AirB&B. Our main target for this area was an enigmatic salamander, one that even most of the biologists in the area rarely see despite all their time spent in the forest. Having so much time on our hands to just search for Bolitoglossa alvaradoi meant we could really explore the area well. We found many nice trails outside the famous (but expensive) forest reserves and found loads of wildlife in the process. Not only herps (to which I get later), but especially mammals were present as well. One of the first nights we had just photographed a Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus) when I noticed some eyeshine on the other side of the road. It turned out to be an Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) staring at me! The next evening we wanted to drive a bit further up that same road, but a fallen tree blocked our path. We started searching on foot when we discovered a pale furry ball in the trees. Our main mammal target was sitting at eyelevel and we got face to face with a Silky Anteater (Cyclopes dorsalis). Incredible to observe this animal slowly move through the vegetation and to see it so close! Other mammals include Nine-Banded Armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus), Central American Tapeti (Sylvilagus gabbei), Mantled Howler (Alouatta palliata), Central American Spider Monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) and a family of Kinkajous (Potos flavus) foraging high in a tree. A final mammal highlight were a group of White Tent-making Bats (Ectophylla alba) which we found when we were actually looking for rhinoceros beetles. We ended up in a small nature reserve close to Puerto Viejo, because we heard one of the local guides had just found one. Luckily the Hercules Beetle (Dynastes hercules) was still there, as well as the bats, and to top it off we even saw a subadult Central American Boa (Boa imperator). Which brings us to the herps. Salamanders were definitely hard to come by as the rains were sporadic, but one night we met up with local biologist Jonathan Vega. We tried really hard at known locations for Bolitoglossa alvaradoi and B. indio which we didn't see, but we did see our first salamander: a Striated Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa striatula). Also plenty of frogs were seen in full breeding mode such as Boulenger's Long-snouted Tree Frog (Scinax boulengeri), Olive Long-snouted Tree Frog (Scinax elaeochroa), Red-eyed Leaf Frog (Agalychnis callidryas) and Hourglass Tree Frog (Dendropsophus ebraccatus). During our stay in the Sarapiquí area, not many rare herp species turned up. Nonetheless, we had great fun exploring the area and photographing the common "garden-herps" such as Plumed Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons) and Green Iguana (Iguana iguana) as well. 

The lowlands were incredibly hot and humid, but also very dry and especially during the end of our stay we didn't have any rains anymore. We decided to escape the heat and drive into the mountains. After all, there are also records of B. alvaradoi higher up, so we tried our luck there. At first we spotted very nice vertical mossy banks of road cuts. Perfect habitat for salamanders, so we carefully started peeling away moss next to a busy road in the pouring rain. That is the true holiday feeling! Not for long until Laura found one of the smallest salamanders of Costa Rica, a Cordillera Central Moss Salamander (Nototriton abscondens) while I found a Taylor's Large-scaled Lizard (Alopoglossus plicatus) hiding out in the same microhabitat. Further up the mountains we searched both during day and night. Along a streambed we spotted various Banded Giant Canopy Anoles (Anolis microtus). The juveniles were lower down, but to photograph an adult male I had to climb a bit... On the road I spotted a Bicoloured Coralsnake (Micrurus multifasciatus). There was heavy traffic, but luckily passing cars missed the snake and we managed to save it from a certain death. A coralsnake mimic was seen during the day as we encountered a Tropical Black Milksnake (Lampropeltis micropholis) on the crawl in the cloud forest. It was great to explore this habitat and to escape the heat of the lowlands a bit.

From the 10th until the 13th of August 2025

For salamander lovers the Centro Manú is a must visit. It is probably the only place where sightings of the rarely seen White-headed Worm Salamander (Oedipina carablanca) are more frequent. This time we wouldn't explore the forest with just the two of us, since it turned out that long-time Facebook friend Robin Duborget and his family were also staying at Centro Manú During the exact same three nights as us! That was a very funny coincidence! On our first night we also explored the forest together with owner Kenneth and despite the dry conditions a lot of species turned up including some highly iconic tree frogs such as the Crowned Tree Frog (Triprion spinosus) and several snake species including the rarely seen Red-headed Glasstail (Urotheca fulviceps). Of our two amphibian main targets not a trace... Well past midnight I did a small round and found one of my main turtle targets and saw two South American Snapping Turtles (Chelydra acutirostris) foraging in the shallows. A fantastic start despite missing our target species! On the second day it was still very dry after a few days without rain, so Laura and I tried to find salamanders in decaying wood. In one termite-infested log I discovered not one, but an entire family of White-headed Worm Salamanders (Oedipina carablanca)! Incredibly happy with these three strange and beautiful salamanders we started photographing and while doing so, the rains finally came down. And quite hard! In the evening we were expecting a lot of activity in the forest, but strangely that was not the case. Maybe the sudden drop in temperatures was not to the liking of many species? Who knows... But Robins keen eye did spot a tiny frog perched two meters high in a vine, and that was a Coral-spotted Rain Frog (Pristimantis altae). Our second target for the area! On the third night we again had a lot of rain and that did not only bring out amphibians, this time also a lot of Americans. When we just wanted to go out into the forest we encountered several of our American Instagram friends and together we waited out the worst of the rains. It was great meeting you guys! After a fun last night in the forest we also had to say goodbye to Robin and his family. It was a pleasure herping together and hope to see you again soon! And also a big thanks to Kenneth for having us in your amazing place!

From the 13th until the 15th of August 2025

Back in 2021 we missed seeing one amazing frog which can only be seen in two locations. As we had not seen it in Veragua, we could not leave a visit to the C.R.A.R.C. out of our itinerary. Owner Brian has truly created an amphibian paradise and many rarely seen species are thriving here. On our first night he showed us around his property and even without rain the species just kept on coming in. Some of those were big and iconic tree frogs such as Red-eyed Leaf Frog (Agalychnis callidryas), Orange-sided Leaf Frog (Agalychnis spurrelli), Splendid Leaf Frog (Cruziohyla sylviae) and of course also our main target: the Lemur Leaf Frog (Agalychnis lemur). We also chased down some more of the lesser known frogs such as Palmer's Tree Frog (Hyloscirtus palmeri) and Mottled Short-snouted Tree Frog (Isthmohyla lancasteri). In a big pond we could also observe several turtles foraging such as another big South American Snapping Turtle (Chelydra acutirostris), but mainly many tiny White-lipped Mud Turtles (Kinosternon leucostomum). And also the leaf litter was full of life with species such as O'Shaugnessy's Galliwasp (Diploglossus bilobatus), Taylor's Large-scaled Lizard (Alopoglossus plicatus) and a Costa Rican Coralsnake (Micrurus mosquitensis).

Brian really was the most gracious host and really made sure we had the best time possible. The next day I strolled through the forest on my own and found a species I was hoping to see, and saw a beautiful, but tiny Caribbean Dwarf Gecko (Sphaerodactylus homolepis) high up on a wall of an abandoned cabin. That was also the time when a massive storm hit, and luckily in said cabin I could have lunch and wait out the worst of the storm. While the trails turned into streams and trees starting falling down I waited. Luckily at some point it got a little bit better and I made a run to our guest house. In the afternoon the weather got a bit better and Brian showed us an area for a special rocket frog. Together we all found several tiny Rainforest Rocket Frogs (Silverstoneia flotator). Then the weather deteriorated again and the abandoned cabin was again a litteral life saver. When we made it back to the guest house again, the power was out and we found out fallen trees were the culprit. Roads were blocked and it was indeed an unusually severe storm. After a tasty burger in town we hit the forest again, but many trails were blocked and there wasn't much activity besides the usual suspects and a Costa Rican Earth Snake (Geophis brachycephalus). On our last morning we tried to find more dwarf geckos, but instead found a nice Hognosed Pitviper (Porthidium nasutum) as a parting gift. Thanks again for your incredible hospitality Brian and we hope to see you again in the future!

From the 15th until the 18th of August 2025

During our last visit to Costa Rica we got stuck in Cahuita as the Penshurt bridge collapsed. Back then we didn't have the best impression of the coastal town, but this time it sure made up for it! We happened to be visiting during the Afro Roots and Culture Festival and the town was alive and buzzing with parades and festivities. We didn't get to see much of that, because luckily the nearby forests were also buzzing with activity. During our first night we did a small stroll close to the Cahuita National Park. We quickly saw our first "Oropel", the stunning yellow Eyelash Palm Pitviper (Bothriechis nigroadspersus) and a few more common species. In an abandoned building we saw four species of gecko and we suspected that our main target for the area might be around. Then Laura saw a tiny snake head sticking our from under the partially collapsed roof. It was a Southern Bromeliad Boa (Ungaliophis panamensis)! We tried to catch it using a long stick, but the snake retreated into the roof. It was quite high up so we ran towards the nearest house and asked them for a ladder. A completely normal question from two overexcited people on rubber boots in the middle of the night... But the people of Cahuita were again super accommodating and before we knew it, I was standing on a ladder, peering into the roof system which was riddled with bat poop and spiderwebs. No sign of the snake though and we were very sad about that. We had a late dinner and both realised this was such a unique opportunity as we knew the snake could not have gone far. We tried it again (without ladder once more) and again Laura spotted the snake hanging from the roof. This time a bit lower and with Laura on my shoulders we managed to catch it and admire it up close. What a gorgeous snake and this species was well worth the wait as we had tried to find it on many previous trips. Also during daytime we didn't sit still and the national park was a surprisingly nice place to explore. Despite the amount of people we saw many more Oropel, observed foraging Raccoons (Procyon lotor) and were harrassed by White-faced Capuchins (Cebus imitator). Just behind the beach we could even make some in-situ pictures of a snake we had seen several times, but could never photograph: a Speckled Racer (Drymobius margaritiferus).

From the 18th until the 21st of August and again from the 23rd until the 26th of August 2025 

Early in the morning we left our car and most of our luggage with our friendly host Xinia and hopped on a non-climatized bus towards the border town of Sixaola. There we crossed the border with Panama on foot, went from office to office to get stamps in our passports and we were on our way again. A second bus ( which was climatized this time) brought us to the harbor of Almirante. One boat ride brought us to the island of Colón, and one taxi ride brought us to our home for the next three nights. In the Monkey Tiny House we had the perfect place to stay, very comfortable beds, a private pool and food being delivered on our doorstep. Very tempting to not leave the fantastic accommodation, but of course we did search every night in a promising looking area a bit further north of our accommodation. Conditions were tough though, as we had little rain and both temperature and humidity were not enjoyable. Moreover, car-rental (and traveling the Bocas in general) is super expensive, so we had to make do with bicycles. Cycling in the tropics; something we will never do again... We did see some activity in the forest despite the challenging conditions and around little ponds on the trail we saw several frog species such as Rhinella horribilis, Incilius coniferus, Craugastor polyptychus, Craugastor talamancae, Allobates talamancae, Diasporus diastema, Leptodactylus savagei and many Red-eyed Leaf Frogs (Agalychnis callidryas) which looked quite a bit different here. In the leaf litter we saw many lizards such as Rio Magdalena Root Teju (Loxopholis rugiceps) and Leaf-litter Gecko (Lepidoblepharis xanthostigma). In an interesting cave system we saw many different bat species and surprisingly also a big Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus). Our targets were hard to find though and we suspect the deforestation that is going on is playing a role in this. All habitats we visited were heavily disturbed and we saw a great many rats on the island of Colón. There was no sign of salamanders, nor Andinobates and it took a while before we saw the first Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs (Oophaga pumilio). After three days of relaxation we had to say goodbye to the private pool and cute cat Mimi and set sail to a new chapter of our adventure on Escudo (read more about that below). After Escudo we had another three days on Colon, which we spent at the Tesoro Escondido and where we took it a bit more easy.

The Bocas del Toro archipelago is famous for its massive variation in different colour morphs of Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs (Oophaga pumilio). On every island, or even every part of every island, these tiny frogs have a different colour or different pattern. On Colon we had some troubles at first, but in the end we luckily saw several beautiful greenish frogs with black spots and orange legs. In the garden of a restaurant they turned out to be quite common!

From the main island of Colón it is very easy to organize a visit to the neighbouring islands. On our last day in Panama, we visited Bastimentos in the morning. Behind the aptly named "Red Frog Beach" we could find a great many Strawberry Poison Dart Frogs (Oophaga pumilio). On Bastimentos they are brightly red, have white bellies and feet and have large black spots on the back. The densities of the frogs here is quite high and with little effort we saw many of them. While searching for frogs we also saw some other species such as Allobates talamancae, Anolis humilis, Anolis cryptolimifrons, Lepidoblepharis xanthostigma, Kinosternon leucostomum, Trachemys venusta, Caiman crocodilus and even an Oxybelis vittatus.

After our visit to Bastimentos we spent the afternoon on Solarte. The density of Strawberry Poison Dart Frog (Oophaga pumilio) is even higher than on Bastimentos. Within seconds after landing on the island we saw a great many of them. Here these frogs are more orangy, and sometimes have tiny black dots on the back. They really resemble Mantella aurantiaca from Madagascar! Also here we saw many Allobates talamancae and Anolis cryptolimifrons.

From the 21st until the 23rd of August 2025

This small and remote Caribbean island is truly a lost world. The nearest mainland is 17 kilometers away and the first people have settled as recently as 1995. Nowadays, only a few families of fishermen live there. Despite its isolation it has surprisingly few endemics as it is suspected to have been connected to the mainland at least 10 times during the last 2 million years. Of the 43 amphibian and reptile species recorded here, there is only one endemic species. The only tropical salamander endemic to an island occurs on Escudo. There is also only one endemic mammal and the smallest sloth species in the world can only be found here. That sounds like a  very special place already!

The northern coast is protected by a large reef, creating shallow lagoons dotted with tiny islands full of lush forest. In between those tiny islands are coral reefs, beds of sea grass and mangroves and shallow canals make it navigable by boat. The main island itself actually also consists of small but steep rocky outcrops, in between them is dense, swampy lowland forest. There are no hiking trails and the areas where you can walk are small clearings behind the beaches or trails which you made yourself with a machete. 

We started our trip in the harbour of Colon. Captain Julian and guide Davíd were already waiting for us and we quickly gathered the last supplies for our stay on the island. In the distance a thunderstorm was brewing and just as we set sail, the day turned to night. We made our way to the last of the inner islands of the Bocas del Toro Archipelago, before making the jump to Escudo. Julian was hesitant to cross the open ocean as it started to rain like it can only rain in the tropics. Covering under tarps we were hoping for the luggage to stay dry. In a nearby research station we took shelter and waited out the worst of the storm. Luckily it didn't take long and soon enough we were sitting in the boat again, soaking wet and on a choppy sea. For a long time we could only see a distant mainland and a massive cargo ship passing by. And then as if by magic, the island appeared above the horizon, whenever the prow of the boat allowed a glimpse. After three hours at sea, we landed at the island and immediately started our search for the endemic salamander. It is allegedly known from a single beach on the entire island. Its habitat is the strangest place for a salamander. Just behind the beach between palm fronds and piles of decaying coconut husks we searched and unearthed a great number of crabs. Just when we had the feeling we really perused the entire stretch of beach, Laura struck gold and spotted a Maritime Worm Salamander (Oedipina maritima)! What a fantastic find and what a truly unique salamander! Afterwards we moved on to our own private beach where we set up camp in an abandoned palapa. We had a swim in the sea, prepared a meal over the camping stove and strolled over the only trail we could find. Immediately we started seeing many frogs and poison dart frogs such as Strawberry Poison Dart Frog (Oophaga pumilio) and Striped Poison Dart Frog (Phyllobates lugubris) which were both incredibly common. We also saw many Diasporus diastema, some huge Lithobates vaillanti and several big Lowland Rain Frogs (Craugastor ranoides). This latter species once had a huge range throughout Central America, but is nowadays confined to a single stream in Guanacaste, Costa Rica and the island of Escudo, which is its last stronghold. Much to our surprise we found several subadults of these rare frogs sitting directly in the tidal zone on the beach with the waves lapping at their feet. What a strange island! Also lizards were present of course and we saw Basiliscus vittatus, Iguana iguana, Corytophanes cristatus, Anolis limifrons, Anolis humilis, Lepidoblepharis xanthostigma, Hemidactylus frenatus, Lepidodactylus lugubris, Marisora alliacea and Holcosus festivus.

The next morning we set out to find the other two salamander species that can be found on the island, but despite our efforts, none were found. We did see many more poison dart frogs, anoles and even a nice Oropel (Bothriechis nigroadspersus). Afterwards we explored the mangroves of the island by boat in search of the only endemic mammal. With relative ease we managed to spot 4 Pygmy Sloths (Bradypus pygmaeus) hanging in the trees. Fantastic to see these small sloths hanging right above our heads! In the afternoon we took it easy and went back to camp. I couldn't really sit still and explored a strange place Laura and I found the night before. In the middle of the jungle we stumbled upon a small beach surrounded by lush vegetation and steep cliffs. It seemed to be connected to the sea by a small cave. Now I went through the cave and came out to a maze of canals of crystal clear water, surrounded by steep cliffs covered with dense jungle. From the treetops I could hear the eerie calls of the Three-wattled Bellbird (Procnias tricarunculatus) and saw White-crowned Pigeons (Patagioenas leucocephala) flying overhead. What a paradise! After a few hours in the water I returned to camp. The wind had picked up and the initial plans of searching the salamander spot at night got in trouble. Julian didn't feel save navigating the shallow waters at night with high waves, so he dropped us off as far as he could and we had to make a trail ourselves using a machete. With Davíd hacking away in front, he created a tunnel through which we could reach the spot and search for salamanders. In the stifled air of the forest in the densest vegetation imaginable, we sweated and cursed, got soaking wet and covered in dirt. Why are we doing this again? For salamanders of course! Just when it got dark we hit our trail again and only after a few minutes I already spotted what we came for and saw a Cocle Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa schizodactyla) sitting on the "path". Cursing can change to cheering very rapidly! A brief search revealed another, larger individual (and a massive Craugastor megacephalus) and we were very happy people! Sweaty and dirty, but happy. At camp we had a nice dinner of freshly caught fish by Davíd and a final highlight was waiting for us. Davíd came from a pee stop saying he had seen an "Iguanito". That turned out to be a species discovered on the island only last year and on eye-level there was a big and beautiful Canopy Lizard (Polychrus gutturosus) sleeping. What a beautiful animal and it had the sharpest claws I have ever felt on a lizard. 

The next morning the wind had picked up again and it was time to say goodbye to our island paradise. A place where salamanders live behind the beach, frogs sit at the shoreline with waves lapping at their feet and where many rare species still thrive in the absence of humans.

From the 27th until the 30th of August 2025

This place is a bit of the beaten track for most foreign visitors, but Laura and I were keen to see a salamander that has only been seen once. Although we searched day and night trying to find the second individual of Bolitoglossa aurae, we were unsuccessful and the only individual ever recorded remains the type specimen found by our friend Brian. While peeling moss on the first day, Laura did find the second individual of the diminutive Vereh Moss Salamander (Nototriton vereh) which was an unexpected surprise! The forests in this region are heavily affected by land-clearing for agriculture and in every forest we visited we saw signs of logging. Animals in general were hard to come by. We had a chance encounter with a big Tiger Ratsnake (Spilotes pullatus) and saw two Lovely Cotingas (Cotinga amabilis) which was a birding highlight. At night we saw surprisingly few frogs and we only saw two species. Yet, we very much enjoyed our stay in the area and our accommodation Hospedaje Satuali played a big role in this. We had a large luxurious house all to ourselves and the house came with a private swimming pool. Food was being brought to our doorstep where we could enjoy it in peace and quiet. This was a nice change of scenery we could get used to!

From the 30th until the 31st of August 2025

In Orosí we met up with herping buddies Alex and Reyner to join forces and see what we would find in the mountains. At dusk we started to search and when it got dark it didn't take us long to find the first Montane Dink Frogs (Diasporus hylaeformis) and snakes such as Mastigodryas melanonomus and Leptodeira ornata. Just when we thought we had scanned all the good places for salamanders, Reyner spotted a big head sticking out of a burrow. Sadly we missed it, but our patience paid off when we returned a little while later. The animal was back and Alex managed to carefully retrieve it. This was the biggest Ring-tailed Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa robusta) we had ever seen! But then we spotted another head in the burrow. It was pretty deep inside, but during photography this animal apparently also wanted to be photographed because it came outside. Not necessarily bigger, but this salamander was definitely stunning as well. Alex also spotted a third one in another burrow and we were all over the moon with these finds. While the night was already fantastic, we also found two Side-striped Palm Pitvipers (Bothriechis lateralis) close to the car to conclude a very memorable night with new herping buddies Alex and Reyner. Thanks a lot again for the fun night guys and let's do this again soon!

From the 31st of August until the 1st of September 2025

While driving through Cartago we spotted two familiar faces standing next to the road. Such a coincidence to see herping buddies Finn and Jesse here! We decided to take them with us and we drove into the mountains. At 3000 meters above sealevel we searched for salamanders and quickly found the first Red-legged Webfoot Salamanders (Bolitoglossa pesrubra) and lizards such as Mesaspis monticola and Sceloporus malachiticus. After dropping the luggage at the accommodation we drove to the place where we stayed in 2021. We had a lovely meal near the fire place while the rain came down hard outside. Lucky for us it stopped shortly after we started herping and not for long until we found the first salamanders such as Tico Webfoot Salamanders (Bolitoglossa tica), Talamanca Highland Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa cerroensis) and also more Bolitoglossa pesrubra. Above our heads the Moustache Bromeliad Tree Frogs (Ishtmohyla picadoi) were taunting us again like in 2021 and only a Banded-thighed Rain Frog (Craugastor melanostictus) proved a more willing photography subject. The next morning we returned to do an early morning round before breakfast. The sun was out a little bit and we checked all the trails to find a very pretty snake. Only on the last section of the last trail we did, Finn spotted a Talamancan Palm Pitviper (Bothriechis nubestris) basking in the vegetation. Amazing to see this species after missing it in 2021 and what a first snake of the trip for Jesse and Finn!

The 1st of September 2025

As Jesse and Finn would mostly experience highland regions, I thought it would be a good idea to visit at least one lowland location to try and find some poison dart frogs with them. We enlisted local herping talent Jared and explored some places around Palmar Norte. Here we found our targets all relatively easy and saw Green-and-black Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates azureus), Granular Poison Dart Frog (Oophaga granulifera) and Golfo Dulce Poison Dart Frog (Phyllobates vittatus). Also a big and beautiful Fer-de-Lance (Bothrops asper) gave away quite the show and started coiling up right in front of us. Like she was dancing! Along a stream we saw Bare-hearted Glass Frogs (Hyalinobatrachium colymbiphyllum) and many Brown Basilisks (Basiliscus basiliscus). It got late and at some point we had to drive back to our accommodation. The roads were empty so that went quickly, but at some point I had to turn around and drive back. Jesse and Finn spotted some eye-shine along the road and we wanted to know for sure if it wasn't the creepy owl-man. Lucky for us it was not and we could observe an Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) running next to the car! The perfect ending to a great night in the field!

From the 2nd until the the 6th of September 2025

One of the main reasons for us to return to Costa Rica was to find a Bolitoglossa splendida with a tail this time. We set out a route that would lead us to the Rio Lori once more, and along the way make camp to search for another rarely encountered salamander. We enlisted the help of mountain man and hiking machine Omar Zuñiga and his friend José Enrique to help us in our quest. We stayed for one night at the cozy (but cold) cabins at Picoaventuras before we would camp in the mountains for the next 4 nights. We left relatively early and hiked along the forested slopes of the Talamanca Mountains. Along the way we stopped to search for all sorts of animals and saw several Cloudforest Anoles (Anolis pachypus) and Omar found a baby Side-striped Palm Pitviper (Bothriechis lateralis). The last part of the hike went up very steeply and while carrying our heavy backpacks we took regular breaks. At the end of the afternoon we arrived sweaty and tired at our first basecamp at 3000m absl. We put up the tents, prepared an easy meal over the camping stove and crawled into our sleeping bags while a familiar sound from the Cerro de la Muerta was taunting us again from above. The next morning we explored the forest around the camp and searched for a certain frog in the bromeliads without any luck. We hiked up a bit further towards the Páramo. In this otherworldly place we again saw bromeliads, but on the stunted trees they were much more accesible. We carefully started peeling the leafs when I saw something hop out. Initially I thought it to be a cricket which frequently live in the bromeliads, but it looked different. And then there it was, the frog that has eluded me so often: a Moustache Bromeliad Tree Frog (Isthmohyla picadoi)! What a wonderful creature and even better, 1 minute later Finn found a second one! After ample admiration we went back to camp. To stay warm we did some gardening and made our camp feel a bit more like home. After another easy meal over the stove we hiked up to the Páramo once more and found the reason we choose to camp here. In the moss several Bolaños Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa bolanosi) were seen crawling around. Fantastic! We went to bed early as the next day we would set out to hack our way 8km deeper into the forest.

Things don't always go according to plan. Mostly they do, but this time not. When we woke up we got a message that shattered our dream. Due to unforeseen circumstances (weather and police) we had to cut our stay in the forest short. This took some time to set in and tears were shed. Months of preparing, and now we had to turn around and hike back to Picoaventuras. That was a bitter pill to swallow, as we knew we would not have the chance to return anytime soon. The hike back was done pretty quickly and in the evening we even set out to search for frogs in the stream nearby. Emerald Glass Frogs (Espadarana prosoblepon) and Water Anoles (Anolis aquaticus) provided some destraction from our expedition which was cut short. The next morning we searched for some terrestrial vipers, and although we didn't find those, Omar spotted something equally exciting. A big greenish snake was shooting through the tall grass. I made the jump and caught this 1.80m long Yellow-spotted Keelback (Chironius flavopictus). But then it was time to say goodbye to Omar, José, Jenny and to furry friends Emilia and Sasquatch as well and move to the next place.

From the 6th until the 9th of September 2025

The main draw for us in this region is a rarely seen viper. Two nights we searched for Porthidium volcanicum, but the snake lived up to its enigmatic reputation and we didn't find it. During the day we explored the nearby mountains where we searched for terrestrial vipers, but also here we weren't lucky. We did get to see the first American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus) along the road, but we were happy to change locations after three nights. 

From the 9th until the 12th of September 2025

In the early morning we set out over the bumpy roads and the white woman rode the metal horse once more. We parked the car and hiked the 900m down a slippery slope. We hoped to beat the afternoon rains and it was good we managed. Shortly after arriving in the camp all hell broke loose. The loudest thunder imaginable was accompanied by very heavy rains. Small streams turned into torrents, the forest was dripping wet and temperatures dropped considerably. Our plans to search for one of our main anuran targets had to be postponed because of this, so the focus was on snakes tonight. Our main snake target was last seen two weeks ago, and although they are known to hang around in the same places for a long time, tonight was not the night where we found it back. Laura did start of the evening by finding an Imantodes cenchoa and I found a Micrurus alleni close to camp. Many Pacific Broad-headed Litter Frogs (Craugastor rugosus) were found, but otherwise it was a rather quiet night. The next day we hiked through the forest almost the entire day, but of our main snake still not a sign... Laura did find a baby Bird-eating Snake (Phrynonax poecilonotus) which was a nice bycatch. The afternoon showers were not so bad this time and the forest was much more alive. We saw several snake species such as another Imantodes cenchoa, but also two Red-eyed Tree Snakes (Siphlophis compressus) and three Bothrops asper. The main dish however came in the form of several colourful toads sleeping on leafs and rocks along the stream. What a delight to finally see Variable Harlequin Toads (Atelopus varius) and in such good numbers!

On our final full day in this beautiful place we set out once more to try our luck with the main snake dish. We did several trails, scanned several slippery slopes and covered a lot of ground. Just when we all began to loose faith there came a cry from the forest: "BUSHMASTER"! Oscar and I were walking on a flat section along the stream when he spotted the queen of the jungle. This absolutely gorgeous Black-headed Bushmaster (Lachesis melanocephala) was laying out in the open and left us all in awe. She measured over 2 meters long and was just calmly observing us as we took our pictures. A massive highlight of the trip! In the evening I shifted my focus on a small leaf litter inhabiting snake which has eluded me for quite some time. Just when we left the camp and I told everybody for the 100th time how much I wanted to see this species, I saw a little snake making its way through the leaf litter. Finally a Rough Coffee Snake (Nothopsis rugosus)!

From the 12th until the 15th of September 2025, & from the 18th until the 21st of September 2025

In the morning we drove into town to say goodbye to Jesse who sadly had to fly back to the Netherlands the next day. With one missing team member, Finn, Laura and I drove towards San Vito. We had a nice accommodation on the outskirts of town where we could enjoy singing Túngara Frogs (Engystomops pustulosus) every evening, and dozens of dogs which made less enjoyable sounds. We enjoyed the culinary delights the town had to offer and explored the surrounding forests day and night. Two nights we met up with local herper Jeff Polilla and found a wide variety of interesting species such as several Talamanca Caecilians (Dermophis gracilior) crawling through the wet grass, a nice and big Green Tree Anole (Anolis biporcatus) in a tree and Finn found a Water Tegu (Centrosaura apodema) in a stream. During the day we tried very hard to find the much desired Anadia ocellata or Anolis savagei in several locations, but to no avail. We did encounter a massive Tropical Black Milksnake (Lampropeltis micropholis) making its way up the slippery slope, another Allen's Coralsnake (Micrurus alleni) and Laura struck gold by finding a Savage's Worm Salamander (Oedipina savagei) inside some moss. After three days it was also time to say goodbye to Finn sadly and Laura and I had a bit of an empty nest syndrome. After our visit to Sabalito (see below) we did return to San Vito to have another try for our main targets Anadia and Anolis savagei. This time we stayed in the very comfortable cabins inside the Las Cruces Biological Station which we had all to ourselves. A fantastic place to stay and we could explore the surrounding forests during day and night. Again we didn't have any luck with the much desired lizards, but we did see some regional specialties such as Legler's Tree Frog (Duellmanohyla legleri), Reticulated Tropical Night Lizard (Lepidophyma reticulatum). and another Savage's Worm Salamander (Oedipina savagei). Mammal highlights included Central American Vesper Rat (Nyctomys sumichrasti) and Derby's Wooly Opposum (Caluromys derbianus).

From the 15th until the 18th of September 2025

In between our separate stays in the San Vito area, Laura and I explored the uplands around Sabalito. We had a nice big house all to ourselves, but we sorely missed our herping buddies Jesse and Finn. And glass in front of the windows. Windows that we could close would have been nice to have in a house in a rainy country in the rainy season. But as usual, we didn't spend a lot of time in the house anyway... We spent a lot of time in the Las Tablas area. We were happy to learn the road had improved a little bit more since our last visit. But only a little bit, we still drove that horrible road 6 times during our stay. Back in 2021 we weren't very successful and we had high hopes that this time we would find the enigmatic Bolitoglossa sombra. We had quite some rain during the day and indeed the forest was teeming with life. In a stream we found several calling Mountain Stream Tree Frogs (Isthmohyla rivularis) while Moustache Bromeliad Tree Frogs (Isthmohyla picadoi) were calling high overhead from bromeliads. I even found a little freshly metamorphed individual inside a low-hanging bromeliad. In the vegetation we found several Cerro Pando Highland Anoles (Anolis kemptoni), while numerous Talamanca Earth Snakes (Geophis talamancae) and Checkered Coffee Snakes (Ninia psephota) were crawling around. I even spotted a Black-speckled Palm Pitviper (Bothriechis nigroviridis) laying in ambush next to the path which is always a highlight! Sadly of salamanders not a sign though! Just when we were about to leave, Laura spotted a little head sticking out from some moss on a tree. Not the species we were hoping for, but Brame's Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa bramei) is also a rarely seen species. We returned a second night, but mostly found the same species. No sign of that sombra and we have to return again to see that one. We also met local herper Edwin who showed us his coffee plantation. Here we were successful with the salamanders and in the pouring rain Edwin and Laura found two big and beautiful individuals of Wood-coloured Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa lignicolor).

From the 21st until the 2th of September 2025

Although we traveled to many corners of the country back in 2021, one biogeographical realm was still unexplored by us and hence we were anxious to see what the Osa Peninsula would have in store for us. Many new species awaited us! We stayed three nights in a very comfortable little house near La Gamba and had an additional two nights on the true Osa Peninsula. On our first night we could already see the first Gladiator Tree Frogs (Boana rosenbergi), but otherwise there was not a whole lot of activity. Just when we hiked back to the car I spotted some scales in a small ditch next to the path. Trying to hide in the submerged vegetation was a massive Central American Boa (Boa imperator)! That was literally a BIG highlight as the snake must have been well over 2 meters long. Close to our accommodation we had quite a big patch of land which we could explore at night. It was heavily disturbed forest so we only found the usual suspects, but alongside the river we did see several Granular Streamside Tree Frogs (Smilisca sila). On our last morning in La Gamba we were just about to leave when herping buddy Jeffrey González made sure we would not leave without having seen White-tailed Hognosed Pitviper (Porthidium porrasi). Thanks again for that ;-)

After a long drive we arrived in Dos Brazos where the climate was even a bit more brutal than La Gamba. We first explored several mangroves at the coast to scout potential habitat for our main target. After a nice sushi dinner we headed back to see if we could find it. In the hot and humid mangroves we did encounter common species such as Ctenosaura similis, Basiliscus basiliscus, Leptodactylus insularum and Leptodactylus savagei, but our main target took a while to find. Just before giving up, Laura found a little trail going towards a slightly different microhabitat and we decided to check that out before going to bed. There a red and black snake suddenly appeared and I spotted the most beautiful Mangrove Cat-eyed Snake (Leptodeira rubricata) crawling around on the mudflats. Naturally we were beyond happy to not only see our target species, but also such an incredible individual at that! 

From the 26th until the 29th of September 2025

After the hot and humid coast, we were happy to be in a more enjoyable climate again. Here we could relax a little bit and enjoy the fabulous food at the Golden Arches in the nearby city. One evening we had arranged an excursion with Don Gerardo to search for a very special toad, but the heavy rain ruined our plans and we had to postpone a day. The next day conditions were much more enjoyable, although we did see the signs of the heavy rain from the day before. Flattened vegetation was a sign that walking around as we did now, would have been not possible the day before and the river must have really burst its banks. With the help of Don Gerardo's eagle-eyes we easily saw several stunning Variable Harlequin Toads (Atelopus varius) sleeping on vegetation. The animals in this population look quite different from the Atelopus we had seen earlier this trip, but they were stunning all the same. I was also keen to find a viper which is also known to occur here and only on our way out I spotted a tiny little snake clinging to the vegetation about 4 meters high. A beautiful baby Blotched Palm Pitviper (Bothriechis supraciliaris)! It was an incredible night and highly elated we fell asleep in our comfortable bungalow. The next day we did a hike in the nearby Cloudbridge Reserve in the hopes to find a certain giant anole. There are only two known sightings in the last 5 years, but we tried our luck nonetheless. Sadly we didn't find Anolis savagei, but I did spot another beautiful anole species. Blue-eyed Anole (Anolis woodi) is another regional specialty and we were very happy to have seen this anole species instead.

From the 29th of September until the 1st of October 2025

Back to the lowlands! After a few relaxing days in the mountains the climate of Quepos hit us hard again. We were here to see a very special mammal of which we actually had seen two already. But the excursion was already arranged long ago, we didn't mind seeing more of them, there are also snakes in the mangroves and it was the perfect excuse to meet with herping friend Niklas. So in the afternoon we met with Niklas and had a lot of catching up to do. We got on the boat with captain Orlando and went into the mangroves. Although we did see the usual suspects such as iguanas, basilisks and crocodiles, there was no sign of a Silky Anteater or a Tree Boa. Orlando was also a bit puzzled as to why we didn't see any, so he offered us another tour early the next morning. Sadly that was not possible for Niklas who had other plans, but for Laura and me that was a very welcome gift. With Niklas we had a very nice dinner in town and herped a bit in the surrounding forest where we saw some very nice Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frogs (Dendrobates auratus) and Reticulated Tropical Night Lizards (Lepidophyma reticulatum). The next morning it was time for Laura and I to hop in the boat with Orlando again. Luckily boa-sniffing dog Mini-me also joined again! Within minutes Orlando's eagle-eyes spotted a tiny fluffy ball hanging high in the tree. A Silky Anteater (Cyclopes dorsalis)! Of to a good start we were curious to see what else we would find and got our hopes up for our main snake target. This time the tide allowed us to search a more suitable place for this species and also here, it was Orlando who spotted a Pacific Tree Boa (Corallus ruschenbergerii) hanging in the red mangroves. We could not have wished for a better snake as it was hanging at eye-level and was casually posing for our cameras. After this amazing experience we were of course over the moon!

From the 1st until the 3rd of October 2025

On this mountain there is a little toad I have always wanted to see ever since I saw pictures of it. But I also always thought Incilius chompipe would be a highly unrealistic goal. After talking to Alex about it, it started to sound as if it might just be doable so we adjusted our plans a little bit to make time to visit this mountain together with Alex. We visited several known locations for this species and immediately interesting endemics started to show up such as Anolis altae, Anolis tropidolepis, a White-lipped Forest Racer (Dendrophidion paucicarinatum) and several beautiful Green-eyed Frogs (Lithobates vibicarius). Sadly the rains started a bit earlier than we had hoped and we waited out the worst of the inclement weather in a mountain refuge where we could have a warm meal. None of us thought of bringing warm clothes, so to stay warm we did a steep and slippery hike in the rain and waited until darkness. In the evening we teamed up with Alex' friends Ginger, Emi and Anthony and we had high hopes to find many more species. Somehow the forest was eerily quiet and only a few isolated Moustache Bromeliad Tree Frogs (Isthmohyla picadoi) were calling high above our heads. We did see a few more Montane Dink Frogs (Diasporus hylaeformis), including the most beautiful patterned animal ever. We named this colour morph "Musmanni" after the tastiest bakery in the whole country and the one that feeds us on a daily basis. Sadly not a sign of the much hoped for little toadlet. We did have a very fun day of herping again and before midnight the Carro de Payasos was back in the city to drop off our friends. Hope to see you again soon guys!

From the 3rd until the 4th of October 2025

Giant Canopy Anoles are truly the chameleons of the neotropics. We have been fortunate enough to have seen one species already, but after having searched for a second species for a long time and not having found it, I was keen to see more. On our way up north we decided to stop near the Arenal Volcano for one night, to try our luck the next morning. We got up at sunrise and hiked the trails inside a private nature reserve and only found a Kinosternon leucostomum and Pristimantis cruentus. There were no people around, but seemingly also very little wildlife. Our luck turned when we talked to some staff members at the entrance of the park and they gave us a few pointers on where to search for our main target. They even confirmed they saw a giant anole this morning. We quickly headed over to find the tree they were talking about. Thinking we found the right tree, we quickly spotted not one, but two large lizards just casually chilling on the trunk. A couple of Jeweled Giant Canopy Anoles (Anolis insignis)! Unbelievable to see these beautiful gentle giants hanging meters above our heads in the tree while a couple of Wedge-billed Woodcreepers (Glyphorhynchus spirurus) was foraging around these much larger lizards. We decided to do the entire trail one more time and this was a good decision. Not only did we see some of the more common species such as Boa imperator and Bothriechis nigroadspersus, a security guide who came to see if I was off the trail (I would never!) hinted us towards a part of the trail where he saw a very special snake in the morning. We went over and after scanning the leaf litter for a long time, Laura spotted a little tail sticking out. Another species we have searched for many times this trip, and now we were looking at a stunning Central American Jumping Pitviper (Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus)! The forest even had one more surprise in store for us. Near the very end of the main trail we stumbled upon a strange lizard sitting on the path. A Rainforest Celestus (Siderolampus hylaius) was eyeing us and, practically unphased by our presence, started to stroll towards a big tree which it climbed. It went higher and higher and the way it moved was great fun to observe. Really like a chameleon would walk, swaying their heads pretending to be a small branch in the wind. 

Species

Talamanca Caecilian (Dermophis gracilior)

Pacific Slender Caecilian (Dermophis occidentalis)

Purple Caecilian (Gymnopis multiplicata)

Bolaños Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa bolanosi) 

Brame's Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa bramei)

Talamanca Highland Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa cerroensis)

Ridge-headed Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa colonnea)

Wood-coloured Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa lignicolor)

Red-legged Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa pesrubra)

Ring-tailed Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa robusta)

Cocle Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa schizodactyla)

Striated Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa striatula)

Tico Webfoot Salamander (Bolitoglossa tica)

Cordillera Central Moss Salamander (Nototriton abscondens)

Vereh Moss Salamander (Nototriton vereh) 

White-headed Worm Salamander (Oedipina carablanca)

Maritime Worm Salamander (Oedipina maritima)

Savage's Worm Salamander (Oedipina savagei)

Variable Harlequin Toad (Atelopus varius)

Pacific Forest Toad (Incilius aucoinae)

Dry Forest Toad (Incilius coccifer)

Green Climbing Toad (Incilius coniferus)

Yellow Toad (Incilius luetkenii)

Atlantic Forest Toad (Incilius melanochlorus)

Smooth-skinned Toad (Rhaebo haematiticus)

Western Cane Toad (Rhinella horribilis)

Granular Glass Frog (Cochranella granulosa)

Emerald Glass Frog (Espadarana prosoblepon)

Bare-hearted Glass Frog (Hyalinobatrachium colymbiphyllum)

Reticulated Glass Frog (Hyalinobatrachium valerioi)

Reticulated Glass Frog (Hyalinobatrachium valerioi)

Cascade Glass Frog (Sachatamia albomaculata)

Ghost Glass Frog (Sachatamia ilex)

Dusty Glass Frog (Teratohyla pulverata)

Dwarf Glass Frog (Teratohyla spinosa)

Bransford's Litter Frog (Craugastor bransfordii)

Slim-fingered Rain Frog (Craugastor crassidigitus)

Common Rain Frog (Craugastor fitzingeri)

Gabb's Dirt Frog (Craugastor gabbi)

Atlantic Broad-headed Litter Frog (Craugastor megacephalus)

Banded-thighed Rain Frog (Craugastor melanostictus)

Masked Litter Frog (Craugastor mimus)

Noble's Masked Litter Frog (Craugastor noblei)

Highland Litter Frog (Craugastor podiciferus)

Coastal Plain Litter Frog (Craugastor polyptychus)

Lowland Rain Frog (Craugastor ranoides)

Pacific Broad-headed Litter Frogs (Craugastor rugosus)

Pacific Litter Frog (Craugastor stejnergerianus)

White-lipped Rain Frog (Craugastor talamancae)

Striped Rocket Frog (Allobates talamancae)

Green-and-Black Poison Dart Frog (Dendrobates auratus)

Granular Poison Dart Frog (Oophaga granulifera)

Strawberry Poison Dart Frog (Oophaga pumilio)

Striped Poison Dart Frog (Phyllobates lugubris)

Golfo Dulce Poison Dart Frog (Phyllobates vittatus)

Rainforest Rocket Frog (Silverstoneia flotator)

Common Dink Frog (Diasporus diastema)

Montane Dink Frog (Diasporus hylaeformis)

Golden-eyed Leaf Frog (Agalychnis annae)

Red-eyed Leaf Frog (Agalychnis callidryas)

Lemur Leaf Frog (Agalychnis lemur)

Orange-sided Leaf Frog (Agalychnis spurrelli)

Gladiator Tree Frog (Boana rosenbergi)

Red-webbed Tree Frog (Boana rufitela)

Splendid Leaf Frog (Cruziohyla sylviae)

Hourglass Tree Frog (Dendropsophus ebraccatus)

Small-headed Tree Frog (Dendropsophus microcephalus)

Veined Tree Frog (Dendropsophus phlebodes)

Legler's Tree Frog (Duellmanohyla legleri)

Rufous-eyed Brook Tree Frog (Duellmanohyla rufioculis)

Palmer's Tree Frog (Hyloscirtus palmeri)

Mottled Short-snouted Tree Frog (Isthmohyla lancasteri)

Moustache Bromeliad Tree Frog (Isthmohyla picadoi)

Mountain Stream Tree Frog (Isthmohyla rivularis)

Boulenger's Long-snouted Tree Frog (Scinax boulengeri)

Olive Long-snouted Tree Frog (Scinax elaeochroa)

Dry Forest Long-snouted Tree Frog (Scinax staufferi)

Mosquito Coast Tree Frog (Smilisca manisorum) 

Masked Tree Frog (Smilisca phaeota)

Tawny Tree Frog (Smilisca puma)

Granular Streamside Tree Frog (Smilisca sila)

Milk Frog (Trachycephalus typhonius)

Crowned Tree Frog (Triprion spinosus)

Túngara Frog (Engystomops pustulosus)

White-lipped Foam-nest Frog (Leptodactylus fragilis)

Spotted Foam-nest Frog (Leptodactylus insularum)

Variable Foam-nest Frog (Leptodactylus melanonotus)

Brown Foam-nest Frog (Leptodactylus poecilochilus)

Smoky Jungle Frog (Leptodactylus savagei)

Sheep Frog (Hypopachus variolosus)

Dry Forest Leopard Frog (Lithobates forreri)

Montane Leopard Frog (Lithobates taylori)

Vaillant's Frog (Lithobates vaillanti)

Green-eyed Frog (Lithobates vibicarius)

Brilliant Forest Frog (Lithobates warszewitschii)

Coral-spotted Rain Frog (Pristimantis altae)

Leaf-breeding Rain Frog (Pristimantis caryophyllaceus)

Golden-spotted Rain Frog (Pristimantis cruentus)

Pygmy Rain Frog (Pristimantis ridens)

Spectacled Caiman (Caiman crocodilus)

American Crocodile (Crocodylus acutus)

South American Snapping Turtle (Chelydra acutirostris)

White-lipped Mud Turtle (Kinosternon leucostomum)

Black Wood Turtle (Rhinoclemmys funerea)

Nicaraguan Slider (Trachemys grayi)

Meso-American Slider (Trachemys venusta)

Highland Alligator Lizard (Mesaspis monticola)

O'Shaugnessy's Galliwasp (Diploglossus bilobatus)

Blue-green Celestus (Siderolampus cyanochloris) DOR

Rainforest Celestus (Siderolampus hylaius)

Common House Gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus)

Mourning Gecko (Lepidodactylus lugubris)

Leaf-toed Gecko (Phyllodactylus tuberculosus)

Turnip-tail Gecko (Thecadactylus rapicauda)

Yellow-headed Gecko (Gonatodes albogularis)

Leaf-litter Gecko (Lepidoblepharis xanthostigma)

Caribbean Dwarf Gecko (Sphaerodactylus homolepis)

Brown Basilisk (Basiliscus basiliscus)

Green Basilisk (Basiliscus plumifrons)

Striped Basilisk (Basiliscus vittatus)

Helmeted Iguana (Corytophanes cristatus)

Highland Anole (Anolis altae)

Water Anole (Anolis aquaticus)

Green Tree Anole (Anolis biporcatus)

Pug-nosed Anole (Anolis capito)

Puerto Rican Crested Anole (Anolis cristatellus)

Cerro Brujo Anole (Anolis cryptolimifrons)

Coppery Anole (Anolis cupreus)

Ground Anole (Anolis humilis)

Cerro Pando Highland Anole (Anolis kemptoni)

Jeweled Giant Canopy Anole (Anolis insignis)

Slender Anole (Anolis limifrons)

Banded Giant Canopy Anole (Anolis microtus)

Osa Anole (Anolis osa)

Stream Anole (Anolis oxylophus)

Cloudforest Anole (Anolis pachypus)

Golfo Dulce Anole (Anolis polylepis)

Costa Rican Cloudforest Anole (Anolis tropidolepis)

Blue-eyed Anole (Anolis woodi)

Common Spiny-tailed Iguana (Ctenosaura similis)

Green Iguana (Iguana iguana)

Green Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus malachiticus)

Rose-bellied Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus variabilis)

Canopy Lizard (Polychrus gutturosus)

Costa Rican Four-lined Skink (Marisora alliacea)

Short-legged Skink (Marisora brachypoda)

Brown Forest Skink (Scincella cherriei)

Taylor's Large-scaled Lizard (Alopoglossus plicatus)

Rio Magdalena Root Tegu (Loxopholis rugiceps)

Northern Root Tegu (Loxopholis southi)

Water Tegu (Centrosaura apodema)

Deppe's Racerunner (Aspidoscelis deppii)

Central American Whiptail (Holcosus festivus)

Delicate Whiptail (Holcosus leptophrys)

Four-lined Whiptail (Holcosus quadrilineatus)

Yellow-spotted Tropical Night Lizard (Lepidophyma flavimaculatum)

Reticulated Tropical Night Lizard (Lepidophyma reticulatum)

Central American Boa (Boa imperator)

Pacific Tree Boa (Corallus ruschenbergerii)

Southern Bromeliad Boa (Ungaliophis panamensis)

Yellow-spotted Keelback (Chironius flavopictus)

Ebony Keelback (Chironius grandisquamis)

Keeled Forest Racer (Dendrophidion apharocybe)

White-lipped Forest Racer (Dendrophidion paucicarinatum)

Black-tailed Cribo (Drymarchon melanurus)

Speckled Racer (Drymobius margaritiferus)

Green Racer (Drymobius melanotropis)

Tropical Black Milksnake (Lampropeltis micropholis)

Satiny Parrot Snake (Leptophis depressirostris)

Mexican Parrot Snake (Leptophis mexicanus)

Salmon-bellied Racer (Mastigodryas melanolomus)

Short-nosed Vine Snake (Oxybelis brevirostris)

Striped Vine Snake (Oxybelis vittatus)

Bird-eating Snake (Phrynonax poecilonotus)

Tiger Ratsnake (Spilotes pullatus)

White-headed Snake (Enuliophis sclateri)

Costa Rican Earth Snake (Geophis brachycephalus)

Common Earth Snake (Geophis hoffmanni)

Talamanca Earth Snake (Geophis talamancae)

Common Blunt-headed Vine Snake (Imantodes cenchoa)

Ornate Cat-eyed Snake (Leptodeira ornata)

Common Cat-eyed Snake (Leptodeira rhombifera)

Mangrove Cat-eyed Snake (Leptodeira rubricata)

Checkered Coffee Snake (Ninia psephota)

Red Coffee Snake (Ninia sebae)

Rough Coffee Snake (Nothopsis rugosus)

Halloween Snake (Oxyrhopus petolarius) 

Ringed Snail-eater (Sibon annulatus)

Red-ringed Snail-eater (Sibon anthracops)

Clouded Snail-eater (Sibon nebulatus)

Red-eyed Tree Snake (Siphlophis compressus)

Red-headed Glasstail (Urotheca fulviceps)

Allen's Coralsnake (Micrurus alleni)

Costa Rican Coralsnake (Micrurus mosquitensis)

Bicoloured Coralsnake (Micrurus multifasciatus)

Central American Coralsnake (Micrurus nigrocinctus)

Side-striped Palm Pitviper (Bothriechis lateralis)

Eyelash Palm Pitviper (Bothriechis nigroadspersus)

Talamancan Palm Pitviper (Bothriechis nubestris)

Black-speckled Palm Pitviper (Bothriechis nigroviridis) 

Blotched Palm Pitviper (Bothriechis supraciliaris)

Fer-de-Lance (Bothrops asper)

Central American Rattlesnake (Crotalus simus) DOR

Black-headed Bushmaster (Lachesis melanocephala) 

Central American Jumping Pitviper (Metlapilcoatlus mexicanus)

Hognosed Pitviper (Porthidium nasutum)

Dry Forest Hognosed Pitviper (Porthidium ophryomegas)

White-tailed Hognosed Pitviper (Porthidium porrasi)