Here’s another one from Pavones, Costa Rica. I’ve posted images of this species of frog before. Usually called the hour glass tree frog. But also known as the pantless tree frog, which I kind of like better. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/60th of a second.

A troop of Central American squirrel monkeys visited this fig tree near my bungalow every afternoon I was at Tiskita Lodge in Costa Rica. Always nice when the wildlife comes to you (without having to bait them to do so). Also known as the red-backed squirrel monkey, these guys are unfortunately listed as a Vulnerable species by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. This is due to their small, fragmented range that continues to experience habitat loss. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 155mm) ISO 400, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.

There are many species of anole lizard that live in the southern US on down through South America. This is the many-scaled anole. I can’t be certain, but perhaps there a not-too-many-scaled anole out there somewhere too. Photographed in Drake Bay on the southwest coast of Costa Rica. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 400mm) ISO 1600, f/4 at 1/20th of a second.

When I was in Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica quite a few years back, I discovered an army of red-eyed tree frogs behind the lodge that I was staying at (I’m told that’s what you call a group of frogs — an army). The males would start their mating calls every night just before I headed in for dinner. Needless to say, I was always the last one to eat at that particular lodge. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 270mm with Canon 500D close up filter attached) ISO 100, f/20 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.

I do love the toucans. This guy is a bit less flashy of beak than the keel-billed toucan, but impressive nonetheless. And these guys are more commonly seen in Costa Rica, where I photographed this one years ago at the La Selva Biological Station in the north central part of the country. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 600mm manual focus f/5.6 lens, ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/40th of a second.

The northern tamandua is a medium-sized anteater that ranges from southern Mexico down through northern South America. They exist almost entirely on ants and termites. I saw this one in Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica. Always fun to see these guys as they are solitary animals and generally nocturnal, but also sometimes active during the day. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 330mm) ISO 800, f/4 at 1/200th of a second.

A coati emerges from the vegetation in Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica. And gives us a nice look at that characteristic snout by looking both ways before crossing a trail. Nikon D800 with Nikkor 200-400mm lens (at 290mm) ISO 3200, f/4 at 1/250th of a second.

The Baird’s tapir is the largest land mammal in Central America. They are classified as endangered and vulnerable to extinction due to habitat loss and poaching. The death of even a single tapir is significant because they reproduce so slowly. The gestation period for a female is more than 400 days, after which a single baby is born. Multiple births are extremely rare. This large male tapir was foraging on the forest floor in Corcovado National Park in Costa Rica. Nikon D700 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 70mm) ISO 3200, f/2.8 at 1/100th of a second.

There are two types of tamandua in the world, the northern and the southern. The one that occurs in Central America is the northern. They aren’t exactly common, but I have had the pleasure of meeting about five or six of them over the years. This guy was my first encounter. Corcovado National Park in southern Costa Rica. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm lens (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/8 at 1/60th of a second. Nikon SB-800 flash.

Here’s another interesting rodent — this time from Costa Rica. The paca, otherwise known as the gibnut or royal rat. Not nearly as big as the capybara I posted yesterday, but still a good size for a rodent. This one was spotted while walking back to my lodge after dinner at Tiskita in the town of Pavones. Nikon D200 with Nikkor 70-200mm (at 200mm) ISO 400, f/5.6 at 1/60th of a second, two Nikon SB-600 flash units.