Costa Rica is host to over 200 different species of mammals and most notably, monkeys are what traveler’s cannot wait to see the most. Costa Rica has four different species of monkeys inhabiting different regions of this small country. The New World monkeys are the capuchins, spider, squirrel, and howler. The capuchins monkeys are probably the best known on the four. If you remember the old organ grinders, then you will remember the little performing monkeys on the leash. They are just as interesting to watch in the wild as they dig around logs for ants, steal food and hoard it, and meticulously pick apart each bite they take. Not phased by curious onlookers, they tend to run in families near Santa Rosa and Manuel Antonio National parks. The squirrel monkeys or titi monkeys are smaller and on the endangered species list. Like the capuchins, they too will forage and eat basically anything. The spider monkeys were the most abundant to the jungles forest until human invasion and could not maintain their population due to the inclusion of man. Their name is given to them due to the extraordinary long tail and human like hands. They are more acrobatic, yet solitary animals. The howler monkey reigns as the biggest and loudest monkey in Costa Rica. Their calls are so shrieking loud they can be heard from over a mile away.
Another mammal you may be able to see in Costa Rica is the beautiful and elusive Jaguar. These creatures who were once worshipped in past civilizations are now sadly endangered. Jaguar at seven feet long, are the most powerful of the cat family. Because they can swim, run, and climb, their feeding needs leave them plenty of variety, and they are not picky. And even though they are considered to be shy, they are not afraid of man. The remaining Jaguar population is in trouble due to deforestation and man. Once an abundant breed, these beautiful creatures are now decreasing in larger numbers.
You will probably want to see the two toed or three toed sloth while in Costa Rica either because you have no idea what a sloth is or you do, and have seen what unusual characters these gentle mammals are. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder when watching these graceful creatures move slowly among the trees with their physical attributes being nothing that fits well on their body. With long bony arms, beady eyes, claws for hands and a flat face, combined with poor hygiene, poor hearing and living most of their lives upside down, you have to wonder how they have come to survive so well in the rainforests. Look up to see the sloth high in the cecropia tree, eating this favorite food, and sleeping for almost 18 hours a day. Sloths can live way beyond 20 years, if they don’t fall prey to lurking eagles first.
Tapirs are another weird looking creature sharing the same rainforest with sloths. The eccentric odd looking mammals combine the looks of a rhino, pig and a horse. Their elephant stump trunk is their way of getting leaves into their mouth. They too, like the jaguar are near extinction due to man. When in danger, Tapirs run with human speed to close waters to camouflage themselves from their predators, which these days is mostly humans.
Other cool animals to look for while you are in Costa Rica is the cute kinkajou, like a north American raccoon, and the infamous anteater which are common in the lowlands of Costa Rica.
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