Mammals & Some Other Wildlife
(land & marine)

in Costa Rica

Some excellent books about Central American Mammals include: 
"A Field Guide to the Mammals of Central America & Southeast Mexico" by Fiona Reid, 1997.
"The Natural History of Costa Rican Mammals" by Mark Wainwright, 2002.

1. Common Opossum ______ (*) CR(N)   
   Didelphis marsupialis
   
   
2. Virginia Opossum ______ (*) CR(N)
   Didelphis virginiana
   
   
3. Gray Four-eyed Opossum ______
   Philander opossum
   
   
4. Water Opossum ______  (also called Yapok) 
   Chironectes minimus
   
   
5. Brown Four-eyed Opossum ______
   Metachirus nudicaudatus
   
   
6. Mexican Mouse Opossum ______
   Marmosa mexicana
   
   
7. Alston's Mouse Opossum ______
   Micoureus alstoni
   
   
8. Central American Woolly Opossum ______
   Caluromys derbianus 
   
   
   ANTEATERS, SLOTHS, and ARMADILLOS (in the Order Xenarthra, formerly Edentata; Anteaters in the Family Myrmecophagidae, Sloths in the Families Bradypodidae (3-toed) & Megalonychidae (2-toed), Armadillos in the Family Dasypodidae) 
   
   
9. Giant Anteater ______ (If it still exists in Central America, it is very rare there. There are a few recent sight records in southern Costa Rica and Panama. This species may be the most endangered mammal in Central America. It is common in parts of South America.)
   Myrmecophaga tridactyla   
   
   
10. Northern Tamandua ______ (*) CR(N,S)  (also called Banded or Vested Anteater) (IN PHOTO AT TOP OF THIS LIST)
    Tamandua mexicana
    
      
11. Silky  Anteater ______  
    Cyclopes didactylus
    
    
12. Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth ______ (*) CR(N,S)
    Bradypus variegatus 
    
    
    
    
    Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth
    
    
13. Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth ______ (*) CR(N,S)
    Choloepus hoffmanni
    (Photo above: with 2 claws (toes) on the forefoot, and 3 claws (toes) on the hind foot.) 
    
     
14. Nine-banded Long-nosed Armadillo ______ (*) CR(N)
    Dasypus novemcinctus
    
    
15. Northern Naked-tailed Armadillo ______
    Cabassous centralis
    
    
    INSECTIVORES (in the Order Insectivora)
    
    SHREWS (Family Soricidae)
    
    
16. American Least Shrew ______
    Cryptotis parva
    
    
17. Blackish Small-eared Shrew ______
    Cryptotis nigrescens
    
    
18. Merriam's Small-eared Shrew ______  (in northwest Costa Rica)
    Cryptotis merriami
    
    
19. Talamancan Small-eared Shrew ______ (highlands, mostly in Costa Rica)
    Cryptotis gracilis
       
    
    BATS (in the Order Chiroptera)
    
    SAC-WINGED BATS (in the Family Emballonuridae)
    
    
20. Proboscis Bat ______ (*) CR(N)
    Rhynchonycteris naso  (the single member of its genus)
    (Common in lowland forest near water: streams, rivers, mangroves, and lakes)
    
    
21. Greater White-lined Bat (or White-lined Sac-winged Bat) ______ (*) CR(N,S)
    Saccopteryx bilineata
    
    
22. Lesser White-lined Bat ______ 
    Saccopteryx leptura 
    
    
23. Shaggy Bat ______ (rare, known only from a few specimens)
    Centronycteris maximiliani
    
    
24. Lesser Doglike Bat ______
    Peropteryx macrotis
    
    
25. Greater Doglike Bat ______
    Peropteryx kappleri
    
    
26. Chestnut Sac-winged Bat ______ 
    Cormura brevirostris
    (In Central America, uncommon & local, usually in lowland evergreen forest)
    
    
27. Gray Sac-winged Bat ______ (*) CR(N)
    Balantiopteryx plicata
    
    
28. Smoky Sheath-tailed Bat ______ (rare & local, in eastern Costa Rica; known from a few specimens taken in humid lowland areas)
    Cyttarops alecto 
    
    
29. Northern Ghost Bat ______ 
    Diclidurus albus
    
    
    FISHING (or BULLDOG) BATS  (in the Family Noctilionidae)  
    
    
30. Greater Fishing Bat ______ (*) CR(N,S)
    Noctilio leporinus
    
    
31. Lesser Fishing Bat ______ (*) CR(N,S)
    Noctilio albiventris
    
    
    LEAF-CHINNED BATS (in the Family Mormoopidae)
    
    
32. Common Mustached Bat ______ (*) CR(N,S)
    Pteronatus parnellii
    
    
33. Lesser Mustached Bat ______
    Pteronatus personatus
    
    
34. Davy's Naked-backed Bat ______
    Pteronatus davyi
    
    
35. Big Naked-backed Bat ______
    Pteronatus gymnonotus 
    
    
    LEAF-NOSED BATS (in the Family Phyllostomidae) 
    
    
36. Common Big-eared Bat ______
    Micronycteris microtis
    
    
37. White-bellied Big-eared Bat ______
    Micronycteris minuta
    
    
38. Schmidt's Big-eared Bat ______ (apparently rare & local)
    Micronycteris schmidtorum
    
    
39. Hairy Big-eared Bat ______ (apparently rare & local)
    Micronycteris hirsuta
    
    
40. Orange-throated Big-eared Bat ______ (uncommon & local)
    Micronycteris brachyotis
    
    
41. Niceforo's Big-eared Bat ______ (In Central America, rare & local; more common in South America)
    Micronycteris nicefori
    
    
42. Tricolored Big-eared  Bat ______ (rare & local)
    Micronycteris sylvestris
    
    
43. Davies' Big-eared Bat  (also called Bartica Bat) ______ (apparently very rare & local; restricted to mature, evergreen forest)
    Micronycteris daviesi
    
    
44. Common Sword-nosed Bat ______
    Lonchorhina aurita
    
    
45. Long-legged Bat ______ 
    Macrophyllum macrophyllum
    
    
46. Stripe-headed Round-eared Bat ______ (Uncommon to rare; usually in mature evergreen forest)
    Tonatia saurophils
    
    
47. Pygmy Round-eared Bat ______  (lowland forest & regrowth areas)
    Tonatia brasiliense
    
    
48. White-throated Round-eared Bat ______
    Tonatia silvicola
    
    
49. Golden Bat ______ 
    Mimon bennettii
    
    
50. Striped Hairy-nosed Bat ______ (rare & local) 
    Mimon crenulatum
    
    
51. Pale Spear-nosed Bat ______
    Phyllostomus discolor
    
    
52. Greater Spear-nosed Bat ______
    Phyllostomus hastatus
    
    
53. Pale-faced Bat ______ (rare & local)
    Phyllostomus stenops
    
    
54. Fringe-lipped Bat ______
    Trachops cirrhosus
    
    
55. Big-eared Woolly Bat  (also called Woolly False Vampire Bat) ______ (uncommon to rare, but widespread)
    Chrotopterus auritus
    
    
56. Spectral Bat (also called Great False Vampire Bat) ______ (rare & local)
    Vampyrum spectrum
    
    
    NECTAR-FEEDING or LONG-TONGUED BATS (in the Subfamilies Glossophaginae & Lonchophyllinae) 
    
    
57. Common Long-tongued Bat ______ (*) CR(N,S) (in forests & clearings)
    Glossophaga soricina
    
    
58. Gray's Long-tongued Bat ______ (in dry forest s & scrub on the Pacific slope)
    Glossophaga leachii
    
    
59. Brown Long-tongued Bat ______
    Glossophaga commissarisi
    
    
60. Geoffrey's Tailless Bat ______
    Anoura geoffroyi
    
    
61. Handley's Tailless Bat ______
    Anoura cultrata
    
    
62. Dark Long-tongued Bat ______ (rare)
    Lichonycteris obscura
    
    
63. Underwood's Long-tongued Bat ______
    Hylonycteris underwoodi
    
    
64. Godman's Whiskered Long-nosed Bat ______ (rare to uncommon)
    Choeronycteris godmani
    
    
65. Goldman's Nectar Bat ______ (*) CR(S) (fairly common in the humid Pacific lowlands of southwest Costa Rica) (occurs in evergreen forests & banana groves)
    Lonchophylla mordax
    
    
66. Orange-nectar Bat ______
    Lonchophylla robusta
    
    
    SHORT-TAILED BATS (in the Subfamily Carolliinae)
    
    
67. Chestnut Short-tailed Bat ______
    Carollia castanea
    
    
68. Gray Short-tailed Bat ______  (in northwest Costa Rica)
    Carollia subrufa
    
    
69. Silky Short-tailed Bat ______
    Carollia brevicauda
    
    
70. Seba's Short-tailed Bat ______
    Carollia perspicillata
    
    
    TAILLESS BATS (in the Subfamily Stenodermatinae)
    
    
71. Little Yellow-shouldered Bat ______
    Sturnira lilium
    
    
72. Luis' Yellow-shouldered Bat ______  (in Costa Rica, on the Caribbean slope)
    Sturnira luisi
    
    
73. Highland Yellow-shouldered Bat ______  (mid-elevation forests & forest edge)
    Sturnira ludovici
    
    
74. Talamancan Yellow-shouldered Bat ______  (mid & high elevation forests & forest edge)
    Sturnira mordax
    
    
75. Great Fruit-eating Bat ______  (in rainforests & clearings) 
    Artibeus lituratus
    
    
76. Intermediate Fruit-eating Bat ______
    Artibeus intermedius
    
    
77. Jamaican Fruit-eating Bat ______  (in rainforests & plantations)
    Artibeus jamaicensis
    
    
78. Aztec Fruit-eating Bat ______
    Artibeus aztecus
    
    
79. Toltec Fruit-eating Bat ______
    Artibeus toltecus
    
    
80. Pygmy Fruit-eating Bat ______
    Artibeus phaeotis
    
    
81. Thomas' Fruit-eating Bat ______
    Artibeus watsoni
    
    
82. Velvety Fruit-eating Bat ______
    Artibeus (formerly Enchisthenes) hartii
    
    
83. Common Tent-making Bat ______
    Uroderma bilobatum
    
    
84. Heller's Broad-nosed Bat ______
    Platyrrhinus helleri
    
    
85. Greater Broad-nosed Bat ______
    Platyrrhinus vittatus
    
    
86. Great Stripe-faced Bat ______ (uncommon north of Panama)
    Vampyrodes caraccioli
    
    
87. Hairy Big-eyed Bat ______
    Chiroderma villosum
    
    
88. Salvin's Big-eyed Bat ______
    Chiroderma salvini
    
    
89. Little Yellow-eared Bat ______
    Vampyressa pusilla
    
    
90. Striped Yellow-eared Bat ______
    Vampyressa nymphaea
    
    
91. MacConnell's Bat ______
    Mesophylla maconnelli
    
    
92. Honduran White Bat ______ (uncommon & local)
    Ectophylla alba
    
    
93. Wrinkle-faced Bat ______
    Centurio senex
    
    
    VAMPIRE BATS (in the Subfamily Desmodontinae)
    
    
94. Common Vampire Bat ______
    Desmodus rotundus
    
    
95. White-winged Vampire Bat ______ (Primarily South American; in Central America, rare & local.)
    Diaemus youngi
    
    
96. Hairy-legged Vampire Bat ______
    Diphylla ecaudata
    
    
    FUNNEL-EARED BATS (in the Family Natalidae)
    
    
97. Mexican Funnel-eared Bat ______
    Natalus stramineus
    
    
    THUMBLESS BATS (in the Family Furipteridae)
    
    
98. Thumbless Bat ______ (In Central America, apparently rare & local, where known from few localities in lowland, evergreen forests,)  
    Furipterus horrens
    
    
    DISK-WINGED BATS (in the Family Thyropteridae)
    
    
99. Spix's Disk-winged Bat ______
    Thyroptera tricolor
    
    
    PLAIN-NOSED BATS (in the Family Vespertilionidae)
    
    
100. Black Myotis ______ (*) CR(N,S)  (in forests & built-up areas)
     Myotis nigricans
     
     
101. Elegant Myotis ______
     Myotis elegans
     
     
102. Silver-haired Myotis ______ 
     Myotis albescens
     
     
103. Riparian Myotis ______
     Myotis riparius
     
     
104. Hairy legged Myotis ______
     Myotis keaysi
     
     
105. Montane Myotis ______
     Myotis oxyotus
     
     
106. Big Brown Bat ______
     Eptesicus fuscus
     
     
107. Brazilian Brown Bat ______
     Eptesicus brasiliensis
     
     
108. Argentine Brown Bat ______
     Eptesicus furinalis
     
     
109. Central American Yellow Bat ______
     Rhogeessa tumida
     
     
110. Van Gelder's Bat ______ 
     Bauerus dubiaquercus
     
     
111. Western Red Bat ______
     Lasiurus blossevillii
     
     
112. Tacarcuna Bat ______ (Rare; known from very few specimens in evergreen forest in Costa Rica & Panama.)
     Lasiurus castaneus
     
     
113. Southern Yellow Bat ______
     Lasiurus ega      
     
     
     FREE-TAILED BATS (in the Family Molossidae)
     
     
114. Greenhall's Dog-faced Bat ______
     Molossops greenhalli
     
     
115. Mexican (or Brazilian) Free-tailed Bat ______  (locally in dry open areas & forests)
     Tadarida brasiliensis
     
     
116. Black Bonneted Bat ______
     Eumpos auripendulus
     
     
117. Wagner's Bonneted Bat ______
     Eumops glaucinus
     
     
118. Sanborn's Bonneted Bat ______
     Eumops hansae
     
     
119. Dwarf Bonneted Bat ______
     Eumops bonariensis
     
     
120. Big-crested Mastiff Bat ______
     Promops centralis 
     
     
121. Black Mastiff Bat ______
     Molossus ater
     
     
122. Miller's Mastiff Bat ______
     Molossus prestiosus
     
     
123. Sinaloan Mastiff Bat ______
     Molossus sinaloae
     
     
124. Pallas's Mastiff Bat ______ 
     Molossus molossus 
     

          THE CEBIDS, or NEW WORLD MONKEYS (in the Order of Primates,
          in the Family Atelidae):

168. Central American Spider Monkey (t3)  ______ (*) CR(N,S)
     Ateles geoffroyi
     Subspecies:
     Ateles g. ornatus: CR(N)
     Ateles g. panamensis: CR(S)
     
     
     
     
     A Central American Spider Monkey photographed during a FONT tour
     (photo by Marie Gardner)
      
     
169. Central American Squirrel Monkey (t1) ______ (*) CR(S)
     Saimiri oerstedii
     (2 subspecies: the northern S. o. citrinellus paler than S. o. oerstedii - the latter pictured below)
     
     
     
     
     A Central American Squirrel Monkey photographed during a FONT tour in Costa Rica 
     
     

171. Lemurine Night Monkey (has also been called Owl Monkey) ______ (In Central America, in Panama; several unconfirmed reports from Costa Rica.) 
     Aotus lemurinus 
     
     
     RODENTS: the gnawing mammals (in the Order Rodentia, which is the largest order of mammals with nearly 2,000 species worldwide).
     Families include:
     Squirrels: Sciuridae
     Mice & Rats: Muridae
     New World Porcupines: Erethizontidae 
     
     SQUIRRELS (in the Family Sciuridae) 
     
     
172. Red-tailed Squirrel ______ (*) CR(N,S)
     Sciurus (formerly Guerlinguetus) granatensis
     
     
173. Variegated Squirrel ______ (*) CR(N,S)
     Sciurus variegatoides
     (14 named subspecies are recognized, including 2 below in Costa Rica)
     S. v. dorsalis: CR (nw)
     S. v. rigidus: CR
     
      
174. Central American Dwarf Squirrel (or "Alfari's Pygmy Squirrel") ______ (*) CR(N)
     Microsciurus alfari
     
     
175. Montane Squirrel ______ (in the highlands of Costa Rica & western Panama)
     Sciurus (formerly Syntheosciurus) brochus
     
     
     POCKET GOPHERS (in the Family Geomyidae)
     
     
176. Variable Pocket Gopher ______  (montane forest clearings & farmland soils in the Cordillera Central & Cordillera de Talamanca)
     Orthogeomys heterodus
     
     
177. Cherrie's Pocket Gopher ______  (north & northeast Costa Rica)
     Orthogeomys cherriei
     
     
178. Underwood's Pocket Gopher ______  (Pacific lowlands of central Costa Rica)
     Orthogeomys underwoodi
     
     
179. Chiriqui Pocket Gopher ______ (in southern Costa Rica & western Panama)
     Orthogeomys cavator
     
     
     KANGAROO RATS & POCKET MICE (in the Family Heteromyidae)
     
     
180. Salvin's Spiny Pocket Mouse ______  (in northern Costa Rica)
     Liomys salvini
     
     
181. Forest Spiny Pocket Mouse ______ (*) CR(S)
     Heteromys desmarestianus
     
     
182. Mountain Spiny Pocket Mouse ______ (Endemic to Costa Rica; only in the Talamanca Mountains, from 1800 to 2600 meters above sea level.)
     Heteromys oresterus
     
     
     RATS & MICE (in the Family Muridae)
     
     NEW WORLD RATS & MICE (in the Subfamily Sigmodontinae)
     
     
183. Coue's Rice Rat ______ 
     Oryzomys couesi
     
     
184. Talamancan Rice Rat ______
     Oryzomys talamancae
     
     
185. Alfaro's Rice Rat ______
     Oryzomys alfaroi
     
     
186. Long-whiskered Rice Rat ______  (on the Caribbean slope)
     Oryzomys bolivaris
     
     
187. Alfaro's Rice Rat ______
     Oryzomys alfaroi
     
     
188. Dusky Rice Rat ______
     Melanomys caliginosus
     
     
189. Big Arboreal Rice Rat ______  (in Costa Rica, in the southern part of the country) 
     Oecomys (has been part of Oryzomys) trinitatis
     
     
190. Sprightly Pygmy Rice Rat ______
     Oligoryzomys vegetus
     
     
191. Northern Pygmy Rice Rat ______ (*) CR(N)
     Oligoryzomys fulvescens
     
     
192. Common Cane Mouse  ______  (in southeast Costa Rica)
     Zygodontomys brevicauda
     
     
193. Hispid Cotton Rat ______ (*) CR(N)
     Sigmodon hispidus
     
     
194. Goldman's Water Mouse ______  (by fast-flowing streams in forested mountains)
     Rheomys raptor
     
     
195. Underwood's Water Mouse ______  (in central Costa Rica)
     Rheomys underwoodi  
     
     
196. Watson's Climbing Rat ______  (lowland forests)
     Tylomys watsoni
     
     
197. Big-eared Climbing Rat ______
     Ototylomys phyllotis
     
     
198. Vesper Rat ______
     Nyctomys sumichrasti
     
     
199. Alston's Singing Mouse ______  (montane forests & forest edge)
     Scotinomys teguina
     
     
200. Chiriqui Singing Mouse ______  (montane forest, forest edge, and paramo)
     Scotinomys xerampelinus
     
     
201. Sumichrast's Harvest Mouse ______
     Reithrodontomys sumichrasti
     
     
202. Slender Harvest Mouse ______  (in northwest Costa Rica)
     Reithrodontomys gracilis
     
     
203. Mexican Harvest Mouse ______ (*) CR(S)
     Reithrodontomys mexicanus
     
     
204. Short-nosed Harvest Mouse ______  (Cordillera Cental)
     Reithrodontomys brevirostris
     
     
205. Nicaraguan Harvest Mouse ______  (northwest Costa Rica)
     Reithrodontomys paradoxus
     
     
206. Rodriguez's Harvest Mouse ______  (on slopes of volcanoes in central Costa Rica) 
     Reithrodontomys rodriguezi
     
     
207. Chiriqui Harvest Mouse ______
     Reithrodontomys creper
     
     
208. Mexican Deer Mouse ______
     Peromyscus mexicanus
     
     
     OLD WORLD RATS & MICE (in the Subfamily Murinae) 
     
     
209. House Rat (i) ______ (*)  (other names include Black Rat & Roof Rat) (originally from India, introduced worldwide)  
     Rattus rattus
     
     
210. Brown Rat (i) ______ (also called Norway Rat) (originally from southeast Siberia & northern China, introduced worldwide) (less widespread than Rattus rattus in Central America)
     Rattus norvegicus
     
     
211. Western House Mouse (i) ______ (commensal with humans in Europe, north Africa, & the Middle East; introduced in North & South America, subsaharan Africa, north Australia, & oceanic islands)   
     Mus domesticus  (formerly conspecific with Mus musculus, now the Eastern House Mouse)
     
     
     NEW WORLD PORCUPINES (in the Family Erethizontidae)
     (More closely related to cavy-like rodents (such as the Agouti and Paca) than to the Old World Porcupines) 
     
     
212. Mexican Hairy Dwarf Porcupine ______ (*) CR(N)
     Coendou (formerly Sphiggurus) mexicanus
     (a generally long-haired, prehensile-tailed Porcupine)
     
     
     AGOUTIS  (in the Family Dasyproctidae)
     
     
213. Central American Agouti ______ (*) CR(N,S)
     Dasyprocta punctata
     
     
     PACAS (in the Family Agoutidae)
     
     
214. Paca ______
     Cuniculus (formerly Agouti) paca
     
     
     SPINY RATS  (in the Family Echimyidae)
     
     
215. Tomes' Spiny Rat ______ (*) CR(N)
     Proechimys semispinosus
     
     
216. Armored Rat ______
     Hoplomys gymnurus
     
     
     RABBITS (in the Order Lagomorpha, Family Leporidae)
      
     
217. Eastern Cottontail  ______ (*) CR(N)
     Sylvilagus floridanus
     
     
218. Forest Rabbit  ______ (*) CR(N)  (other names: Tropical Cottontail Rabbit or Brazilian Rabbit or Tapiti) 
     Sylvilagus (formerly Tapeti) brasilensis
     
     
219. Dice's Rabbit ______ (*) CR(S)  (also called Mountain Rabbit; formerly considered a subspecies of the Forest Rabbit)
     Sylvilagus (formerly Tapeti) dicei
      
     
     
     CARNIVORES, in the Order Carnivora, with Families including:
     Dogs & Foxes: Canidae 
     Cats: Felidae
     Raccoons & allies: Procyonidae
     Weasels, Skunks, & allies: Mustelidae
     
     DOGS & FOXES (in the Family Canidae) 
     
     
220. Gray Fox ______  
     Urocyon cinereoargenteus
     
     
221. Coyote ______ (*) CR(N)
     Canis latrans
     
     
     RACCOONS & ALLIES (in the Family Procyonidae)
     
     
222. Kinkajou (ti) ______ (*) CR(N,S)
     Potos flavus  (the single member of its genus)
        
     
     
     
     Kinkajou, photographed during a FONT tour in Costa Rica in February 2006
     (photo by Rosemary Lloyd)
      
     
223. Bushy-tailed Olingo ______
     Bassaricyon gabbii
     
     
224. Harris's Olingo (t2) ______  (endemic to Costa Rica, in the Estrella de Cartago region)
     Bassaricyon lasius
     
     
225. Northern Raccoon ______ (*) CR(N)
     Procyon lotor
     
     
226. Crab-eating Raccoon ______ 
     Procyon cancrivorus
     
     
     
     A Crab-eating Raccoon photographed during a FONT tour
     
     
227. White-nosed Coati ______ (*) CR(N,S)
     Nasua narica
     
     
     
     
     A White-nosed Coati photographed during a FONT tour
     (photo by Marie Gardner)
      
     
228. Cacomistle ______ (*) CR(S)
     Bassariscus sumichrasti
     
     
     WEASELS, SKUNKS, & ALLIES (in the Family Mustelidae) 
     
     
229. Long-tailed Weasel ______ (*) CR(N)
     Mustela frenata
     
     
230. Greater Grison ______
     Galictis vittata
     
     
231. Tayra ______ (*) CR(S)
     Eira barbara  (the single member of its genus)
     
     
232. Neotropical River Otter ______ (*) CR(N,S)
     Lutra (formerly Lontra) longicaudis
     
     
233. Hooded Skunk ______  (in northwest Costa Rica)
     Mephitis macroura
     
     
234. Eastern Spotted Skunk ______
     Spilogale putorius
     
     
235. Striped Hog-nosed Skunk ______ (*) CR(N,S)
     Conepatus semistriatus
     
     
     CATS (in the Family Felidae)
     
     
236. Ocelot (t2) ______ 
     Leopardus pardalis
     
     
237. Margay (t2) ______ (*) CR(S)
     Leopardus wiedii
     
     
238. Oncilla ______
     Leopardus tigrinus
     
     
239. Jaguarundi ______  
     Herpailurus yauarondi
     
     
240. Puma ______ (also called Cougar, or Mountain Lion) 
     Puma concolor
     
     
241. Jaguar ______
     Panthera onca
     
     
     MANATEES (in the Order Sirenia, in the Family Trichechidae)
     
     
242. West Indian Manatee (t1) ______  (rare & local along the Central American Caribbean coast)
     Trichechus manatus  
     
     
     ODD-TOED UNGULATES (in the Order Perissodactyla; the tapirs in Family Tapiridae)
     
      
243. Baird's Tapir (t1) ______ (*) CR(S)
     Tapirus bairdii
     
     
     EVEN-TOED UNGULATES (in the Order Artiodactyla, with Peccaries in the Family Tayassuidae and Deer in the Family Cervidae) 
     
     
244. Collared Peccary ______ (*) CR(N)
     Tayassu tajacu
     
     
245. White-lipped Peccary ______ (*) CR(S)
     Dicotyles pecari
     
     
246. White-tailed Deer ______ (*) CR(N)
     Odocoileus virginianus
     
     
247. Red Brocket (Deer) ______ (*) CR(S)
     Mazama americana
     
     
     
     MARINE MAMMALS (in the Order Cetacea) 
     
     TOOTHED WHALES (in the Suborder Odontoceti)
     
     OCEAN DOLPHINS (in the Family Delphinidae)
       
     
248. Rough-toothed Dolphin (t3) ______ 
     Steno bredanensis
     (off Central America, in the Pacific, offshore, including Cocos Island waters)  
     
     
249. Tucuxi (t3) ______
     Satalia fluviatilis
     (along the Central American Caribbean coast, from Cahuita, Costa Rica, south)
     
      
250. Pacific Spotted Dolphin ______
     Stenella atrenuata
     (off the Central American Pacific coast, where frequently seen) 
     
     
251. Atlantic Spotted Dolphin (t3) ______
     Stenella frontalis
     (off the Central American Caribbean coast) 
     
     
252. Long-snouted Spinner Dolphin ______ (*) CR(S)
     Stenella longirostris centroamericana
     (off the Central American Pacific coast, & further offshore including Cocos Island waters)
     
     
253. Clymene Dolphin (also called Short-snouted Spinner Dolphin) (t3) ______
     Stenella clymene
     (off Central America, in the Caribbean)
     
     
254. Striped (or Blue-white) Dolphin ______
     Stenella coeruleoalba
     (off Central America, in the Pacific, offshore, including Cocos Island waters) 
     
     
255. Common Dolphin ______
     Delphinus delphis
     (in Central America, off the Pacific coast; one of the most gregarious and abundant of the world's cetaceans) 
     
     
     
     
     A Common Dolphin photographed during a FONT tour
     (photo by Andy Smith)
     
     
256. Bottlenose Dolphin ______ (*) CR(N)
     Tursiops truncatus
     (off & along the Central American Pacific & Caribbean coasts)
     
     
     
     
     A Bottlenose Dolphin photographed during a FONT tour
     
     
257. Fraser's Dolphin (t2) ______
     Lagenodelphis hosei
     (off the Central American Pacific coast, & further offshore, including waters near Cocos Island; does occur in the Lesser Antilles & the Gulf of Mexico) 
     
     
258. Risso's Dolphin (also called Gray Grampus) (t3) ______
     Grampus griseus
     (off Central America, in the Pacific)
     
     
259. Melon-headed Whale (t3) ______
     Peponocephala electra
     (off Central America, in the Pacific)  
     
     
260. Pygmy Killer Whale (t3) ______
     Feresa attenuata
     (in the Pacific, off the Central American coast)
     
     
261. False Killer Whale (t3) ______
     Pseudorca crassidens
     (in the Pacific, off the Central American coast, & in Cocos Island waters)
     
     
262. Killer Whale (or Orca) (t3) ______
     Orcinus orca
     (off the Central American Pacific & Caribbean coasts) 
     
     
263. Short-finned Pilot Whale (t3) ______
     Globicephala Macrorhynchus
     (off the Central American Pacific coast, & further offshore including Cocos Island waters)
     
     
     SPERM WHALE (a single species in the Family Physeteridae) 
     
     
264. Great Sperm Whale (t2) ______
     Physeter catodon
     (off the Central American coasts, in the Pacific and the Caribbean)
     
     
     PYGMY SPERM WHALES (now in the Family Kogiidae)
     
     
265. Pygmy Sperm Whale (t3) ______
     Kogia brevicops
     (off Central America, in the Pacific)
     
     
266. Dwarf Sperm Whale (t3) ______
     Kogia simus
     (off Central America, in the Pacific; & has been recorded about 150 miles south of Cocos Island) 
     
     
     BEAKED WHALES (in the Family Hyperoodontidae)
     
     
267. Cuvier's Beaked Whale (t3) ______
     Ziphius cavirostris
     (off the Pacific coast of Central America)
     
     
268. Blainville's Beaked Whale (t3) ______
     Mesoplodon densirostris
     (on occasion, in the Pacific off Central America; has been recorded about 50 miles southeast of Cocos Island)
     
     
269. Gray's Beaked Whale (t3) ______
     Mesoplodon grayi
     (in the Pacific, well offshore; has been recorded over a hundred miles southwest of Cocos Island)
     
     
270. Southern Bottlenose Whale (t2) ______
     Hyperoodon planifrons
     (off Central America, in the Pacific, including Cocos Island waters)  
     
     
     RORUALS (in the Family Balaenopteridae)
     
     
271. Blue Whale (t1) ______
     Balaenoptera musculus
     (in the Pacific, generally more than 200 miles off Central American coast; reported in Cocos Island waters)
     
     
272. Fin Whale (t2) ______
     Balaenoptera physalus
     (off Central America, in the Caribbean, offshore)
     
     
273. Sei Whale (t2) ______
     Balaenoptera borealis 
     (off Central America, in the Pacific, well offshore; recorded north of Cocos Island)
     
     
274. Bryde's Whale (t1) ______
     Balaenoptera brydei (formerly edeni)
     (off Central America, in the Pacific, offshore; recorded in Cocos Island waters)
     
     
275. Northern Minke Whale (t2) ______
     Balaenoptera acutorostrata (formerly conspecific with what's now the Antarctic Minke Whale, Balaenoptera bonaerensis)
     (off Central America, in the Caribbean, offshore; & may also occur in the Pacific off Central America)
     
     
276. Humpback Whale (t2) ______
     Megaptera novaeangliae
     (in the Pacific, off Central America, mainly from July to December)   
            
     
     

1. Manta Ray (a) ______ CR(S) (P)
   Manta hamiltoni
   
   
   REPTILES:
   
   
   Family CHELONIIDAE (Hard-shelled Sea Turtles): 6 species worldwide 
   
   
2. Atlantic Green (Sea) Turtle (t3) ______ CR(A)
   Chelonia mydas mydas
   Pacific Green (Sea) Turtle (t3) ______ CR(P)
   Chelonia mydas agassizii 
   
   
3. Loggerhead Sea Turtle (t2) ______ CR
   Caretta caretta
   
   
   
   
   A Loggerhead Sea Turtle during a FONT tour
   (photo by Alan Brady)
    
   
4. Hawksbill Sea Turtle (t1) ______ CR(A,P)
   Eretmochelys imbricata 
   
   
5. Olive Ridley Sea Turtle (t2) ______ (*:a,b) CR(N,S)(A,P)
   Lepidochelys olivacea
   
   
   Family DERMOCHELYIDAE (Leatherback Turtle): a single species
   
    
6. Leatherback Sea Turtle (t2) ______ (*:b)  CR(N)(P)
   Dermochelys coriacea
   
   
   
   Family EMYDIDAE (Pond Turtles)
   
   
7. Brown Wood Turtle ______ CR
   Rhinoclemmys annulata
   (range: from Belize & eastern Honduras south to Panama and Colombia & Ecuador)    
   
   
8. Black Wood Turtle ______ CR(A)
   Rhinoclemmys funerea
   (range: Caribbean lowlands of Nicaragua, Costa Rica, & Panama into the Canal basin)
   
   
9. Painted Wood Turtle ______ CR(N) (In CR, only in dry nw lowlands)
   Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima
   
   
10. Common Slider ______ (*) CR(N)
    Trachemys scripta
    
    
    
    Family KINOSTERNIDAE  (Mud & Musk Turtles)
    
    
11. White-lipped Mud Turtle ______ CR
    Kinosternon leucostomum
    
    
12. Red-cheeked Mud Turtle ______ CR
    Kinosternon scorpioides
    
    
13. Narrow-bridged Mud Turtle (t3) ______ CR
    Kinosternon angustipons 
    
    
    Family CHELYDRIDAE (Snapping Turtle): 2 species only in the Americas
    
     
14. Common Snapping Turtle ______ CR
    Chelydra serpentina
    
    
    
    
    Common Snapping Turtle
    (photo by Howard Eskin)
    
    
    Family CROCODYLIDAE  (Crocodile Family): 14 species worldwide 
    
    
15. Morelet's Crocodile (t3) ______ (*) CR(N)(A,P)
    Crocodylus acutus
    
    
    
    
    Morelet's Crocodile 
    (photographed during a FONT tour by Marie Gardner)
    
    
    Family ALLIGATORIDAE  (Alligator Family)
    
    
16. Spectacled Caiman ______ (*) CR(N,S)(A,P)
    Caiman crocodilus
    
    
    
    
    A Spectacled Caiman photographed during a FONT tour
    (photo by Andy Smith)
    
    
    Suborder LACERTILIA (Lizards)
    
    Family EUBLEPHARIDAE (Banded Geckos)
    
    
17. Central American/Tropical Banded Gecko ______ CR(NP)
    Coleonyx mitratus
    
    
    Family GEKKONIDAE (Geckos)
    
    
18. Yellow-headed Gecko ______ CR(NP)
    Gonatodes albigularis
    
    
19. House Gecko (i) ______ CR(A,SP)
    Hemidactylus frenatus
    
    
20. Hemidactylus garnotii (a native Costa Rican species virtually indistinguishable from the House Gecko)
    
    
21. Litter Gecko ______ CR
    Lepidoblepharis xanthostigma
    
    
22. Spotted Dwarf Gecko ______ CR 
    Sphaerodactylus millepunctatus
    
    
23. Turnip-tailed (or Mottled) Gecko ______ CR (A,SP)
    Thecadactylus rapicaudus
    
    
    Family CORYTOPHANIDAE (Casque-headed Iguanas): Formerly included in the large and diverse family Iguanidae; in 1989 this group elevated to family status. The Basilisks are commonly referred to "Jesus Christ Lizards" as they can run atop water. The following is an explanation of that behavior:
    
    
    A narrow seam of skin, which runs around each basilisk toe, forms a moveable flap that is expanded when its foot is pressed onto the water, thus creating a larger surface area. The force that the lizards put into the downward movement of their feet produces an upward pressure that by itself creates almost a quarter of the total force required to keep the lizard from sinking. When the running basilisk presses its foot down onto the water, an air-filled pocket is formed around the foot. This pocket quickly fills with water, so the lizard must rapidly withdraw it foot to prevent from having to "plow' through the water. As the foot retracts, the moveable skin-flaps on the toes fold down against the sides of the toes to reduce friction against the air. The combined pressure that is produced during a single downward and upward stroke of the foot can be enough to provide 111% of the support required to allow an adult basilisk to run on the water. Small juveniles, with a body weight of less than 2 grams (0.07 of an ounce), are capable of producing 225% of the upward pressure necessary for an animal of that weight. With the combination of speed and specially adapted toe fringes, these lizards can run considerable across the water surface.        
    In order for a 176 pound human to match a running basilisk's aquatic performance, he or she would have to run at almost 69 mph across the water and produce a muscle force 15 times greater than what an average person is capable of doing.   
    
    
24. Common Basilisk ______ (*) CR(N,S)(P)
    Basiliscus basiliscus
    
    
25. Emerald (or Green) Basilisk ______ (*)CR(N)(A)
    Basiliscus plumifrons
    
    
26. Striped Basilisk ______ CR
    Basiliscus vittatus
    
    
27. Helmeted Iguana (also called Elegant-headed Basilisk or Casque-headed Lizard) ______ CR (A,SP)
    Corytophanes cristatus
    
    
    Family IGUANIDAE  (Iguanas)
    
    
28. Green Iguana ______ (*) CR(N,S)(A,P)
    Iguana iguana
    (A bright green when young, but changes to gray, brown, greenish-gray, or almost black as it grows older)
    
    
    
    
    Green Iguana
    (photographed during a FONT tour by Marie Gardner)
    
    
29. Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (also called Ctenosaur) ______ (*) CR(N)(P)
    Ctenosaura similis 
    
    
30. Five-keeled Spiny-tailed Iguana ______ CR (In CR, restricted to a few isolated areas in the Santa Rosa National Park in Guanacaste.)
    Ctenosaura quinquecarinata
    
    
    Family POLYCHROTIDAE (Anoles & allies)
    
    
31. Puerto Rican Crested Anole (i) ______ CR
    Ctenonotus cristatelllus
    
    
32. Giant Green Anole ______ CR
    Dactyloa frenata
    
    
33. Water Anole ______ CR
    Norops aquaticus
    
    
34. Green Tree Anole ______ CR
    Norops biporcatus
    
    
35. Pug-nosed Anole ______ CR
    Norops capito
    
    
36. Ground Anole ______ CR(A,P)
    Norops humilis 
    
    
37. Canopy Anole ______ CR
    Norops lemurinus
    
    
38. Slender Anole ______ CR
    Norops anole 
    
    
39. Stream Anole ______ CR
    Norops oxylophus
    
    
40. Golfo Dulce Anole ______ CR(S) (SP)
    Norops polylepis
    
    
41. Indigo-throated Anole ______ CR
    Norops sericeus 
    
    
42. Cloud Forest Anole ______ CR (H)
    Norops tropidolepis
    
    
43. Dry Forest Anole ______ CR
    Norops cupreus
    
    
44. Blue-eyed Anole ______ CR (P)
    Norops woodi
    
    
45. Canopy Lizard ______ CR
    Polychrus gutturosus
    
    
    Family PHRYNOSOMATIDAE (Spiny Lizards & allies)
    
    
46. Green Spiny Lizard ______ CR (H)
    Sceloporus malachiticus
    
    
47. Rose-bellied Spiny-Lizard ______ CR (NP)
    Sceloporus variabilis
    (range: Texas to nw Costa Rica)
    
    
    Family SCINCIDAE (Skinks)
    
    
48. Bronze-backed Climbing Skink ______ CR
    Mabuya unimarginata
    
    
49. Litter Skink ______ CR
    Sphenomorphus cherriei
    
    
    Family GYMNOPHTHALMIDAE (Microteiid Lizards)
    
    
50. Bromeliad Lizard ______ CR
    Anadia ocellata
    
    
51. Golden Spectacled Lizard ______ CR
    Gymnophthalmus speciosus
    
    
52. Water Tegu ______ CR
    Neusticurus apodemus
    
    
53. Keeled Leaf-litter Lizard ______ CR
    Ptychoglossus plicatus
    
    
    Family TEIIDAE (Whip-tailed Lizards)
    
    
54. Central America Whip-tailed Lizard ______ (*) CR(N)(A,SP)
    Ameiva festiva
    
    
55. Four-lined Whip-tailed Lizard ______ CR
    Ameiva quadrilineata
    
    
56. Barred Whip-tailed Lizard ______ CR (NP)
    Ameiva undulata
    
    
57. Deppe's (or Seven-striped) Whip-tailed Lizard ______ CR (NP)
    Cnemidophorus deppii
    
    
    Family XANTUSIDAE (Night Lizards)
    
    
58. Yellow-spotted/Tropical Night Lizard ______ CR
    Lepidophyma flavimaculatum
    
    
    Family ANGUIDAE (Anguid Lizards)
    
    
59. Rainforest Celestus ______ CR
    Celestus hylaius
    
    
60. Talamanca Galliwasp ______ CR
    Diploglossus bilobatus
    
    
61. Galliwasp ______ CR
    Diploglossus monotropis
    
    
62. Highland Alligator Lizard ______ CR
    Mesaspis monticola 
    
    
    Suborder SERPENTES (Snakes)
    
    Family ANOMALEPIDIDAE (Neotropical Blindsnakes)
    
    
63. Neotropical Slender Blindsnake ______ CR
    Leptotyphlops goudotii
    
    
    Family TYPHLOPIDAE (True Blindsnakes)
    
    
64. Costa Rican Blindsnake ______ CR
    Typhlops costaricensis 
    
    
    Family LOXOCEMIDAE (Neotropical Sunbeam Snakes)
    
    
65. Neotropical Sunbeam Snake ______ CR
    Loxocemus bicolor
    
    
    Family BOIDAE (Boa Family, the Boids)
    
    
66. Boa Constrictor ______ (*) CR(N,S),
    Boa constrictor
    
    
67. Annulated Tree Boa ______ CR
    Corallus annulatus
    
    
68. Common Tree Boa ______ CR
    Corallus ruschenbergerii
    
    
    Family COLUBRIDAE (Colubrid Snakes)
    
    
69. Ridge-nosed Snake ______ CR
    Amastridium veliferum
    
    
70. Mussurana ______ CR
    Clelia clelia
    
    
71. Roadguarder ______ CR
    Conophis lineatus
    
    
72. Barred Forest Racer ______ CR
    Dendrophidion vinitor
    
    
73. Speckled Racer ______ CR
    Drymobius margaritiferus
    
    
74. Green Frog-eater ______ CR
    Drymobius melanotropis
    
    
75. False Coral Snake ______ CR
    Erythrolamprus mimus 
    
    
76. Gray Earth Snake ______ CR
    Geophis brachycephalus
    
    
77. Brown Blunt-headed Vine Snake ______ CR
    Imantodes cenchoa
    
    
78. Yellow Blunt-headed Vine Snake ______ CR
    Imantodes inornatus
    
    
79. Tropical King Snake ______ CR
    Lampropeltis triangulum
    
    
80. Black-and-white Cat-eyed Snake ______ CR
    Leptodeira nigrofasciata
    
    
81. Black-and-red Cat-eyed Snake ______ CR
    Leptodeira rubricata
    
    
82. Northern Cat-eyed Snake ______ CR
    Leptodeira septentrionalis
    
    
83. (Satiny) Parrot Snake ______ CR
    Leptophis depressirostris
    
    
84. Mexican Parrot Snake ______ CR
    Leptodeira mexicanus
    
    
85. Bronze-backed Parrot Snake ______ CR (In CR, in Caribbean lowlands, and at low elevations in sw Costa Rica; very similar to the Mexican Parrot Snake)
    Leptodeira nebulosus
    
    
86. Fire-bellied Snake ______ CR
    Liophis epinephelus
    
    
87. Spotted Wood Snake ______ CR
    Ninia maculata
    
    
88. Brown Vine Snake ______ (*) CR(S),
    Oxybelis aeneus
    
    
89. Short-nosed Vine Snake ______ CR
    Oxybelis brevirostris
    
    
90. Green Vine Snake ______ CR,
    Oxybelis fulgidus
    
    
91. Bird-eating Snake (or Neotropical Bird Snake) ______ CR
    Pseustes poecilonotus
    
    
92. Green Litter Snake ______ CR
    Rhadinacea calligaster
    
    
93. Red (or Pink)-bellied Litter Snake ______ CR
    Rhadinaea decorata
    
    
94. Shovel-toothed Snake ______ CR
    Scaphiodontophia annulatus
    
    
95. Neotropical Rat Snake ______ CR
    Senticolis triaspis
    
    
96. Lichen-colored Snaileater ______ CR
    Sibon longifrenis
    
    
97. Tiger Rat Snake ______ CR
    Spilotes pullatus
    
    
98. Degenhardt's Scorpion-eater ______ CR
    Stenorrhina degenhardtii
    
    
99. Reticulated Centipede Snake ______ CR
    Tantilla reticulata
    
    
100. False Fer-de-lance ______ CR
     Xenodon rabdocephalus
     
     
     Family ELAPIDAE (Coral Snakes) (VENOMOUS)
     
     
101. Allen's Coral Snake ______ CR
     Micrurus alleni
     
     
102. Bicolored (or Red-tailed) Coral Snake ______ CR
     Micrurus multifasciatus
     
     
103. Central American Coral Snake ______ CR
     Micrurus nigrocinctus
     
     
     Subfamily HYDROPHIINAE (Sea Snakes) (VENOMOUS)     
     
     
104. Yellow-bellied/Pelagic Sea Snake ______ CR
     Pelamis platurus
     
     
     Family VIPERIDAE (Viper Family) (VENOMOUS)
     
     
105. Cantil ______ CR
     Agkistrodon bilineatus
     
     
106. Jumping Pit Viper ______ CR
     Atropoides nummifer
     
     
107. (Side-)Striped Palm Pitviper ______ CR
     Bothriechis lateralis
     
     
108. Eyelash Pitviper ______ CR
     Bothriechis schlegelii
     
     
109. Fer-de-lance ______ CR
     Bothrops asper
     
     
110. Godman's Montane Pit-Viper ______ CR
     Cerrophidion godmani
     
     
111. Tropical Rattlesnake ______ CR
     Crotalus durissus
     
     
112. Central American Bushmaster ______ CR
     Lachesis stenophrys
     
     
113. (Rainforest) Hog-nosed Pitviper ______ CR
     Porthidium nasutum
     
     
      
     
     
     
114. colorful "upland" crabs ______ CR(S)
115. various "beach" crabs, including Hermit, Ghost, & Sally light-foots ______ CR(S)
116. various other crabs ______ CR(N)
     
117. Poison Dart Frogs (red ; green & black) ______ CR(N)
118. tree frogs (sp.) ______ CR(S)
119. various other toads and frogs ______ CR(N,S) (including a bufus toad on a tree-limb disrupting hummingbirds, manakins, and trogons (in S CR))
120. snake (salmon-colored) ______ CR(S)
     
121. Leaf-cutter and other rainforest ants ______ CR(N,S)
122. Dung Beetles CR(N)
123. Jellyfish (in mangrove area) CR(N)
124. small marine creatures of coastal tidal pools ______ CR(S)