Los Mogos

Inspite of the fact that the rainy season is well underway, yesterday was just like a Summer's day. We were out in the field, collecting near Los Mogos. Here, several excellent miradors exist (such as the one featured in the image above) overlooking the Golfo Dulce and other parts of the Osa Peninsula.

"Bioalphabetizacion" - Dictionary of Biodiversity

Recently, Reinaldo received a great gift from an old friend and colleague, Dr. Maarten Kappelle, a copy of the newly published book Diccionario de la Biodiversidad (Editorial INBio, 2008). Nilo claims the gift as his own, and since it arrived has not been able to put it down! The book provides straight forward definitions (in Spanish) for hundreds of words and technical terms relating to the diversity of life on Earth -- from "abdomen" to "zooxantelas" -- and includes fascinating photographic illustrations, as well as many beautifully executed line drawings by other talented friends of ours, such as Francisco "Pancho" Quesado-Q. We recommend this book to nature enthusiasts, both young and old!

Heliconia longiflora

This image shows an inflorescence of the highly ornamental Heliconia longiflora (Heliconiaceae), which is flowering right now in the LCO native plants garden, as well as in its natural environment throughout the Osa Peninsula.

Eye eye!

Here are the gorgeous Gladiator frogs (Hyla rosenbergi) up close.

Catch of the day

Nilo with two Gladiator frogs, also known as Rosenberg's tree frog (Hyla rosenbergi).

See how s/he shines!

This image shows the rainbow-petroleum like sheen of it'sskin. Perhaps s/he had recently moulted. We are very pleased to have spotted a few of these magnificent beasts at LCO over time as they are becoming increasingly rare. The problem being that, at a glance, their pattern might be confused with that of a venemous snake species, such as the Fer-de-Lance viper (and local people take no chances!)and also that they have an unfortunate habit of eating people's chickens!

Beautiful Boa

This is a beautiful Boa constrictor that Reinaldo found on one of the LCO forest trails on Sunday afternoon.

Rice Fields

A recently planted field of rice (Oryza sp. - Poaceae) can be seen from a mirador on the edge of the forest at Los Charcos. Together with the African oil palm (Elaesis guineensis - Arecaceae) rice is one of the major economic crops cultivated on the Osa Peninsula. It easy to identify, due to its carpet-like appearance and its charcteristic brilliant emerald color.

Carnivorous wasp

Whilst the snake (Leptophis ahatulla) was eating the frog (Hyla rosenbergi) a carnivorous wasp arrived on the scene and was attempting to join in with the feast. These wasps are known locally as "Carniceros". Please contact us if you think you recognise the species of wasp.

In the process of being eaten

These images show various stages in the process of a frog (Hyla rosenbergi) being eaten by a snake (Leptophis ahatulla).

Snake eating a frog

A few days ago, I was in the garden, when I heard a stange, beeping call. It was pretty loud. It turned out to be a green parrot snake, known locally as "Lora falsa" (Leptophis ahatulla), that had managed to catch a Gladiator frog, also known as Rosenberg's tree frog (Hyla rosenbergi). As the image shows, the snake had captured the frog by its rear end, and held it there clamped in it's jaws for some time, until the frog finally died. At some point (although, we did not observe this part of the process) it managed to turn the frog, and proceeded to devour it head first. It is truly amazing that this snake, not much thicker than a adult human's finger, managed to swallow what is one of the larger frog species to be found here at Los Charcos. The size ratio can clearly be seen here.