1. Reptiles and Amphibians of Santa Rosa National Park
Santa Rosa National Park is home to
a huge diversity of reptiles and amphibians.
They range from the everyday Leopard Frog to
the magnificent Green Sea Turtle! These amazing
creatures play a critical role in the environment: they
are both predator and prey to many other animals.
However, they exist in a delicate balance. Reptiles and
amphibians are known as “indicator species” because
they are incredibly sensitive to the health of their environment.
Increasing habitat destruction, pollution, and human exploitation are
threatening the existance of these animals. As you explore Santa Rosa,
keep your eyes peeled for the reptiles and amphibians that still abound
in the park!Green Sea Turtle
Tortuga negra
(Chelonia mydas)
Among the largest of the sea
turtles, they can grow up to 3 feet
long and weighing as much as 400
pounds! Every year, these ocean-
dwelling reptiles can be seen
laying eggs on the coasts of Santa
Rosa. Keep your eyes peeled, but
remember to only look so as not
to disturb these gentle creatures!
Every year, many of them are
killed in the trawls of shrimp
vessels.
American Crocodile
Cocodrilo americano
(Crocodylus acutus)
The crocodile is the top predator
in Santa Rosa’s waterways.
These large reptiles are swift and
silent in the water as they hunt
everything from small fish to
large mammals drinking at the
waters edge. The large males can
be quite dangerous
Stauffer’s Treefrog
Ranita de Stauffer
(Scinax staufferi)
During the rainy
season these charming
frogs will be laying
their eggs in small,
temporary pools in Santa Rosa.
These frogs are often spotted in
our campground bathrooms or
clinging to branches in puddles
during the rainy season. See if you
can spot any!
Leaf-Toed Gecko
Gueco tuberculoso
(Phyllodactylus tuberculosus)
These delicately built geckos
are excellent climbers due
to their specialized toes!
Mostly active at night, you
can sometimes spot them
climbing around rocks in search of
small insects. But don’t be fooled by
their cousins, the Asian Gecko, who
competes with the native geckos for
food!
Spiny-Tailed Iguana
Garrobo
(Ctenosaura similis)
This iguana is an excellent
climber, though it is often seen
on the ground. They have
been excessively hunted for
food, but their numbers are
slowly coming back. Look for
the distinctive keeled scales
on their long tails to identify
these long lizards. Some males
have been known to grow
over 1.5 meters!
Rosebelly Spiny Lizard
Lagartija espinosa variable
(Sceloporus variabilis)
These small lizards are a
particularly beautiful and
graceful animal. They are
mostly brown with light spots
and two light brown stripes
on their backs. It’s the males
who have that striking red tint
to their belly! You can often spot
them climbing around rocks or tree
trunks as they hunt for insects.
Brown Vine Snake
Bejuquilla café
(Oxybelis aeneus)
True to its name, this slender
snake is often mistaken for a
vine as it hunts for birds and
lizards amoung the trees. As
you hike through the park,
look for these cleverly disguised
snakes in the wet forest areas.
Photo Courtesy Of:
Dr. Tim Burkhardt, 2005
Photo Courtesy Of:
Anywhere Costa Rica by
Pompilro Campos
Cane Toad
Sapo gigante
(Bufo marinus)
This giant toad is hard to miss!
Growing to an average of 10-
15cm, the Cane Toad eats
everything from spiders, slugs,
snails, other frogs, lizards, and
even mice and rats! You can
find them in dryer habitats than
frogs, and they usually come out
at night.
Olive Ridley Turtle
Tortuga lora
(Lepidochelys olivacea)
The smallest of the sea turtles, the
Olive Ridley still grows to about
45 kg and about 65 cm long! They
are solitary creatures, known to
migrate thousands of miles alone.
Santa Rosa is one of only a few
beaches in the American tropics
where you can see mass nestings
of these turtles, known as arribadas!
Photo Courtesy Of:
Tim Martin
naturepl.com
Photo Courtesy Of:
Christian Mehlfuhrer,
2007
Photo Courtesy Of:
Diana-Terry Hibbitts,
2012
Photo Courtesy Of:
ShareAlike 2.5 by Maciej
Pabijan
Photo Courtesy Of:
Lorenzo Menendez,
National Geographic
Photo Courtesy Of:
Roman Pashkeev
Photo Courtesy Of:
Brian Gatwicke
This poster was created by Environmental
Education students at UWSP as part of their
capstone experience.