Wild Side

by Ryan Piercy

Welcome to the Jungle!

This article marks the 100th in this series on wildlife in Costa Rica, so for something special I decided that instead of profiling a specific animal, it was a good opportunity to take a general look at the wildlife throughout all of the country. Named the Rich Coast, Costa Rica is certainly rich. Perhaps the Spaniards who first arrived here did not encounter the gold and riches they had dreamed of, but today’s explorer will find a country that is resplendent with a different kind of wealth; it is rich in a huge variety of animals, plants, insects, and more. This small country, which comprises less than one-third of 1% of the world’s land mass, is home to nearly 5% of the entire world’s biodiversity; the highest concentration of biodiversity anywhere on our planet! Whether a visitor is a scientist, amateur photographer, or simply a passerby, one can’t help but become enthralled with the abundance of species encountered here. The variety is

even more astounding when one considers that Costa Rica is such a small territory, only 51,100 square kilometers in area. It was due to the formation of the territory itself, along with Panama, about three to five million

years ago, that created a land bridge allowing flora and fauna from the Northern and Southern continents to mix, thus creating a melting pot for different species. Costa Rica is home to over 500,000 animal species. Here one can encounter 175 kinds of amphibians (mostly frogs), 894 aves (nearly 10% of all birds worldwide), 245 species of mammals (with many bats and some wild cats), 100s of different kinds of pisces (fish), 225 types of reptiles, 1,250 genus of butterflies, and literally hundreds of thousands of different insects and invertebrates. And that doesn’t even consider the gigantic number of unique plant species to be found here! Just think about that for a second; that makes for ten different species for each square kilometer in the country! Most of us who have lived here for some time have come to realize that no matter where you are, there are creatures and wildlife all around you, all the time. Sometimes it is nice to just stop, breathe in the air, and quietly observe the immediate area for any wonders you may see. No matter what your particular interests or preferences are, you will certainly be able to find enough variety to keep your interest piqued for a long period of time. It is certain that the more one learns about their favorite species, the more you will be drawn to learning about other forms of life here, all with equally fascinating aspects. This article is dedicated to the Golden Toad of Monteverde, and it is this writer’s hope that these simple articles will help bring us a little closer to nature, and the wild side of Costa Rica. Editor's Note: The Golden Toad (Incilius periglenes, formerly Bufo periglenes) is an extinct species of true toads that was once abundant in a small, high-altitude region of about 4 square kilometres (1.5 sq mi) in an area north of Monteverde, Costa Rica. It is commonly considered the "poster child" for the amphibian decline crisis. The last sighting of a single male golden toad was on 15 May 1989, and it has since been classified as extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). (Adapted from Wikipedia)