Animals in Costa Rica

Below you can find a complete list of Costa Rican animals. We currently track 286 animals in Costa Rica and are adding more every day!

The list of animals in Costa Rica is long. Go to almost any zoo globally, and you will see Costa Rican animals because many of them are very unusual. According to Costa Rica’s National Biodiversity Institute, there are over 894 bird species, with over 600 of them living in the country all the time.

Additionally, there are over 250 mammals, 225 reptiles, 171 amphibians, 8,000 moths, and 1,251 butterfly species. Learning about animals native to Costa Rica, especially colorful Costa Rican animals, can be great fun when you go on an eco-tourism tour.

The Official National Animal of Costa Rica

The official animal of Costa Rica is the white-tail deer. Officials chose this animal because of its characteristics that symbolize Costa Ricans. Its tenderness, strength, peace, energy, fertility, and prosperity are reasons lawmakers chose this species.

White-tail deer mainly live on the savannahs located inside national parks in the country’s southern part. Bucks usually only grow to be about four feet tall and weigh about 150 pounds. While you are more likely to see white-tail deer in the country’s southern part, they usually grow bigger in the country’s northern regions. Regardless of location, if they sense danger approaching, they will flip their tails, pant, and stomp their hooves. They may also flash their white underside to get the attention of other nearby deer. While you will see Costa Rican animals of many different colors, it is not that way with deer as they only see in black and white.

Where To Find The Top Wildlife in Costa Rica

One of the top places to see wild animals in Costa Rica is the Osa Peninsula. This area in the country’s southwestern part offers prime viewing of animals in Costa Rica at Corcovado National Park, where over 463 bird species and 140 mammal species live. You may see monkeys, tapirs, sloths, jaguarundis, pumas, ocelots, and jaguars.

Next to Corcovado National Park is Golfito National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is a terrific place to go birdwatching as it is home to over 200 bird species, including parrots, macaws, herons, and owls. This location is also a fantastic place to see spider and howler monkeys along with anteaters.

These two bordering locations are close to Golfo Dulce. Traveling to the other side will bring you to Piedras Blancas National Park, where over 96 mammal species live, including jaguars, pumas, coatimundi, skunks, sloths, monkeys, rodents, and bats. This park is home to jaguars, ocelots, pumas, jaguarundi, margays, although they can be hard to see because most of them are nocturnal.

There are also many other wonderful places to see animals native to Costa Rica like:

Marino Ballena National Park – This park on Costa Rica’s coast is a fantastic place to see monkeys, iguanas, sea turtles, and whales.
Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve – This park on the Continental Divide is home to the two-toed sloth and is a fantastic place to see quetzals and hummingbirds.
Manuel Antonio National Park – This national park on the Central Pacific Coast is home to over 105 mammal species, including howler, squirrel, spider and white-faced monkeys, two-and-three-toed sloths, raccoons, coatis, pacas, anteaters, and ocelots.
Tortuguero National Park – This park on the country’s northern coastline is home to over 60 species of mammals, including spider, capuchin and howler monkeys, jaguar, pumas, ocelots, sloths, river otters, and manatees. It is also home to over 111 species of reptiles and 57 species of amphibians.

The Most Dangerous Animals In Costa Rica Today

There are many dangerous amphibians in Costa Rica, like the coral snake, American crocodiles, and poison dart frogs. The Clodomiro Picado Institute estimates that there are two deadly snakes per hectare in the country. The most dangerous snake in Costa Rica is the fer-de-lance. While it is not the most venomous, its breeding patterns, aggressive attitude, and rapid venom production mean that this species is responsible for almost all the snake bites in Costa Rica.

Additionally, there are also dangerous animals in Costa Rica, like:

Puma – One of the most dangerous is the puma. Over the last 100 years, puma attacks have killed at least 44 people.
Bulls – Rodeoing is very popular in Costa Rica. Annually, bulls kill riders and bullfighters.
Jaguars – The second largest cat in Costa Rica is also one of the most dangerous animals in costa Rica. Most people who jaguars kill are encroaching on their territory.

Endangered Animals In Costa Rica

Unfortunately, there are more than 200 endangered animals in Costa Rica. Several different factors contribute to causing extinct animals in costa Rica, including deforestation, human development, unsustainable fishing and hunting practices, poaching, and illegal pet trade.

Some of these threatened or extinct animals in Costa Rica include:

Central American squirrel monkey – Standing less than 11 inches tall, these russet-brown monkeys usually live in groups of up to 70 individuals. Look for them in the Manuel Antonio National Park.
Baird’s tapir – These pig-like animals look like they have the beginnings of an elephant’s trunk for a nose. They are nocturnal and stand about 6 feet tall. A slow birth rate and habitat loss have left them endangered, but visitors may catch a rare sighting at Corcovado National Park.
Jaguar – The fact that locals believe that jaguars kill more livestock and humans than they do has led to this cat with its spotted coat being overhunted. It can be challenging to spot this nocturnal animal that lives in Costa Rica’s rainforests.
Geoffroy’s spider monkey – Hunting, deforestation, and the illegal exotic pet trade threaten the very social Geoffroy’s, but you may still be able to see this monkey that often stands up about 18-inches tall at the Santa Rosa National Park and the Corcovado National Park.
Jaguarundi – This cat, which is the smallest of Costa Rica’s cat family, is the only one to be more active during the day than at night. Deforestation and habitat loss threaten this extremely territorial animal, but visitors may still catch a sighting at the Palo Verde National Park.

Where to See Animals in Costa Rica?

There are many terrific places to see animals in Costa Rica Including:

There are many different types of animals that live in Costa Rica. Learn more about them today by participating in an eco-tourism vacation and enjoy seeing the colorful Costa Rican animals.

Costa Rican Animals

Acadian Flycatcher

Their nests are sloppily held together and have an abandoned appearance

Admiral Butterfly

Stunningly beautiful wings

Agouti

The agouti is one of the only animals that can crack open Brazil nut pods!

Amazon Parrot

These parrots can be trained to be "talking birds" that mimic human speech

American Eel

Don't eat raw eel! Their blood is poisonous to humans when consumed raw.

Anhinga

Their name means snake bird

Anole Lizard

There are just under 400 species, several of which change color.

Ant

First evolved 100 million years ago!

Anteater

Has the longest tongue of any animal in relation to its body size!

Armadillo

Can curl into a hard, protective ball!

Armyworm

They are so named because they "march" in armies of worms from one crop to another in search of food

Asian Lady Beetle

Asian lady beetles infest indoor spaces, but they do not reproduce indoors.

Barn Owl

Found everywhere around the world!

Barn Swallow

Older offspring help care for new hatchlings.

Basilisk Lizard

Can run/walk on water.

Bear

There are 8 different species!

Bed Bugs

Bed bugs feed for 4-12 minutes.

Bee

Rock paintings of bees date back 15,000 years

Beetle

There are more than 350,000 different species

Beewolf wasp

They hunt bees

Bird

Not all birds are able to fly!

Biscuit Beetle

The biscuit beetle form a symbiotic relationship with yeast

Black and White Warbler

Black Widow Spider

They typically prey on insects!

Blackburnian Warbler

They are the only songbird in North America with an orange throat!

Blind Snake

The blind snake is often mistaken for a worm.

Blue grosbeak

Blue grosbeak parents take off the head, legs and wings of an insect before feeding it to their baby.

Blue Tanager (Blue-Grey Tanager)

They travel and forage in pairs or groups

Blue Tang

One of the most colorful members of the genus Acanthurus

Booby

Seabirds found across the South Pacific!

Brazilian Treehopper

“Mild-Mannered Minimonsters”

Brown Dog Tick

Can live its entire life indoors

Burrowing Owl

The burrowing owl lives in underground burrows

Bush Dog

Bush dogs have webbed toes to help them swim.

Bushmaster Snake

The bushmaster’s scientific name means “silent death.”

Butterfly

There are thought to be up 17,500 species!

Caecilian

Some species' babies use their hooked or scraper-like teeth to peel off and eat their mother's skin

Caiman

Can grow to up 6 meters long!

Camel Cricket

The camel crickets that are found in the USA are light brown in color. They also have dark streaks all over their body.

Carpenter Ant

Carpenter ants can lift up to seven times their own weight with their teeth!

Cat

May have been domesticated up to 10,000 years ago.

Caterpillar

The larvae of a moth or butterfly!

Catfish

There are nearly 3,000 different species!

Cedar Waxwing

Their feathers have red, waxy tips that can be hard to identify unless you’re up close.

Centipede

There are about 3,000 documented species!

Checkered Garter Snake

It has the ability to expel a stinky liquid from its body as a way to make predators (and humans) retreat!

Chestnut-Sided Warbler

They inhabit regrowing forests

Chicken

First domesticated more than 10,000 years ago!

Cichlid

There are more than 2 000 known species!

Coati

Found in dense forests and wet jungles!

Cockroach

Dated to be around 300 million years old!

Coconut Crab

The largest terrestrial arthropod in the world

Codling Moth

Pupae are able to undergo diapause to survive poor fruit yield years and winter.

Collared Peccary

Form bands of up to 12 individuals!

Common Furniture Beetle

The common furniture beetle feeds exclusively on wood

Common House Spider

House spiders have the ability to eat most insects in a home.

Common Yellowthroat

The Common Yellowthroat stays close to the ground and uses stealth to survive!

Coral Snake

There are over 80 species of coral snake worldwide.

Cormorant

They can fly 35 mph and dive 150 feet below water.

Cow

There are nearly 1.5 billion worldwide!

Crab

There are 93 different crab groups

Crab Spider

Crab Spiders can mimic ants or bird droppings

Cricket

Male crickets can produce sounds by rubbing their wings together

Crocodile

Have changed little in 200 million years!

Crocodylomorph

Crocodylomorphs include extinct ancient species as well as 26 living species today.

Crow

A group of these birds is called a Murder.

Cuckoo

Curly Hair Tarantula

Dickcissel

They have a unique call that they are named for.

Dog

First domesticated in South-East Asia!

Dog Tick

Dog ticks feed on dogs and other mammals

Donkey

First domesticated 5,000 years ago!

Dragonfly

It's larvae are carnivorous!

Dubia Cockroach

The most popular species of feeder roach

Duck

Rows of tiny plates line their teeth!

Dung Beetle

The dung beetle can push objects many times its own weight

Dusky Shark

The Dusky Shark sometimes eats trash discarded by humans.

Dwarf Boa

Some species can change color from dark to light, and back again.

Earthworm

They are hermaphrodites, which means they have male and female organs

Earwig

There are nearly 2,000 different species!

Eastern Meadowlark

They can live up to 9 years.

Eel

Eels can be a mere few inches long to 13 feet!

Elegant Tern

Have a lifespan of 20 years or more

Eyelash Viper

While the eyelash viper can be a pet, be cautious – they are extremely venomous!

Falcon

The fastest creatures on the planet!

False Widow Spider

False spiders actually prey on black widow spiders and other hazardous spiders

Fiddler Crab

The fiddler crab gets its name from the motion the males make with their over-sized claw during the mating ritual.

Firefly

The firefly produces some of the most efficient light in the world

Flea

Adult fleas can jump up to 7 inches in the air

Fly

There are more than 240,000 different species!

Flying Squirrel

Can glide up to 90 meters!

Frog

There are around 7,000 different species!

Fruit Fly

Fruit flies are among the most common research animals in the world

Fulvous Whistling Duck

They build a ramp from their nest, which leads to a nearby water source

Gar

Can grow to more than 3m long!

Garter Snake

Female garter snakes give birth to live young rather than laying eggs!

Gecko

There are thought to be over 2,000 species!

German Cockroach

The most common type of urban roach

Giant Leopard Moth

When giant leopard moths mate, their mating sessions last over 24 hours.

Glass Frog

You can see their internal organs.

Glowworm

Found inhabiting dense woodland and caves!

Gnat

Males form large mating swarms at dusk

Grasshopper

There are 11,000 known species!

Gray Catbird

Their songs have cat-like qualities and can mimic other birds and animals, like tree frogs.

Gray Fox

The gray fox has retractable claws and a rotating wrist that allow it to climb trees with some proficiency

Great Blue Heron

Their wingspan is larger than an eagle’s; both males and females help hatch the eggs; rich in symbolism

Great Crested Flycatcher

This species makes use of some truly unusual nesting material, including snakeskin and garbage

Great Potoo Bird

At night, they make a terrifying low call that sounds like a distressed moan or growl.

Guppy

Also known as the Millionfish!

Hairy Woodpecker

They are natural pest controls

Hamster

Able to run as quickly backwards as forwards!

Hare

Can reach speeds of over 50 mph!

Harpy Eagle

Talon's the size of a grizzly bear's claws!

Harris’s Hawk

Their vision is eight times better than a human's

Hawk Moth Caterpillar

Many hawk moth caterpillars eat toxins from plants, but don’t sequester them the way milkweed butterflies do. Most toxins are excreted.

Hepatic Tanager (Red Tanager)

Parents and their young sing sweetly to each other

Hercules Beetle

This dynastine scarab beetle makes a weird huffing sound when it’s disturbed.

Heron

Inhabits wetlands around the world!

Herring Gull

They are loud, spirited birds with raucous cries that sound like bursts of laughter.

Honduran White Bat

The bat only eats figs.

Honey Bee

There are only 8 recognized species!

Horse

Has evolved over 50 million years!

Horsefly

Horseflies have been seen performing Immelmann turns, much like fighter jets.

House wren

The wren’s epithet, aedon, comes from a Greek queen who accidentally killed her only son. She was actually aiming for her nephew, and Zeus took pity on her and turned her into a nightingale.

Housefly

The fly has no teeth

Howler Monkey

Spends 80% of it's time resting!

Human

Thought to have orignated 200,000 years ago!

Hummingbird

Beat their wings up to 80 times per second!

Huntsman Spider

Some huntsman spiders have an interesting way of moving around. Some cartwheel while others do handsprings or backflips.

Ibis

Found in swamps, marshes and wetlands!

Iguana

Uses visual signals to communicate!

Insects

There are an estimated 30 million species!

Jabiru

They form lifelong pair bonds and live in groups near water sources.

Jacana

The jacana has the ability to swim underwater

Jack Crevalle

One of the biggest species in the Caranx genus

Jaguar

The largest feline on the American continent!

Jumping Spider

Some can jump 50 times the length of their bodies

Keel-Billed Toucan

It's beak can reach nearly 20 cm long!

Kentucky Warbler

The Kentucky Warbler appears to wear bright yellow cat-eye glasses!

Kingfisher

Inhabits wetlands and woodlands worldwide!

Kinkajou

The kinkajou is a nimble forest-dwelling mammal of Central and South America.

Ladybug

There are more than 5,000 species worldwide!

Leech

Has 10 pairs of eyes!

Leopard Frog

They can jump up to three feet

Lesser Scaup

Young lesser scaups learn to dive as soon as their down dries.

Lizard

There are around 5,000 different species!

Locust

Each locust can eat its weight in plants each day.

Lone Star Tick

Only females have the ‘lone star’ marking

Macaw

The largest species of parrot in the world!

MacGillivray’s Warbler

The complicated story of how MacGillivray’s Warblers got their name involves three ornithologists, a physician and a compromise.

Maggot

Will only live in wet areas

Magnolia Warbler

They line their nests with fungi strands

Mahi Mahi (Dolphin Fish)

It's called the rabbit of the ocean because it multiplies so quickly.

Margay

Margays are one of the world’s most highly adapted cat species for climbing trees!

Marine Toad

Produces a toxin used in arrow darts!

Mealybug

They have a symbiotic relationship with ants.

Mexican Free-Tailed Bat

Some colonies have millions of bats

Millipede

Some species have a poisonous bite!

Mockingbird

Mockingbirds are incredible mimics that can learn hundreds of songs!

Mole

Primarily hunts and feeds on Earthworms!

Mole Cricket

Adult Mole crickets may fly as far as 5 miles during mating season and are active most of the year.

Molly

Known for their calm and peaceful nature!

Monarch Butterfly

During migration, Monarch Butterflies may travel 250 or more miles each day.

Mongrel

Has characteristics of two or more breeds!

Monkey

There are around 260 known species!

Moonglow Boa

Moonglow boas are the result of mixing three genetic traits.

Moorhen

Feeds on aquatic insects and water-spiders!

Morpho Butterfly

Collectors prize them for their bright wings

Mosquito

Only the female mosquito actually sucks blood

Moth

There are 250,000 different species!

Mountain Lion

Has no real natural predators!

Mourning Dove

It is almost always the male who makes the famous sad sound, which is a wooing call

Mourning Gecko

Mourning Warbler

The Mourning Warbler was named for its gray head, which resembles a mourning veil!

Mouse

Found on every continent on Earth!

Mule

The offspring of a horse and donkey parents!

Muscovy Duck

Unlike most duck species, the Muscovy is silent and only makes noise when excited or threatened.

Nematode

Nematodes range in size from 1/10 of an inch to 28 feet long

No See Ums

There are more than 5,000 species.

Northern Harrier

They can reach speeds of 25 Mph but prefer to soar low and slow.

Northern Pintail

Northern pintails migrate at night with speeds reaching 48 miles per hour!

Northern Potoo

You can find them near golf courses in urban areas

Ocelot

Also known as the Painted Leopard!

Orange-Crowned Warbler

Often mistaken for the Tennessee Warblers, which are equally dull.

Orb Weaver

Females are about four times the size of males

Osprey

They reuse nesting sites for 70 years!

Otter

There are 13 different species worldwide

Owl

The owl can rotate its head some 270 degrees

Owl Butterfly

Owl butterflies derive their name from big spots on each hindwing that resemble owl eyes

Ox

Painted Bunting

They are one of the most colorful species of birds.

Panther

Prefers to hunt at night than during the day!

Parrot

Can live for up to 100 years!

Peregrine Falcon

Fastest animal on Earth

Pheasant

Females lay between 8 and 12 eggs per clutch!

Pigeon

They can find their way back to their nests from up to 1300 miles away.

Pit Viper

Pit vipers's fangs fold up into their mouths when they don't need them.

Poison Dart Frog

Inhabits the jungles of Central and South America!

Pompano Fish

They are bottom-feeders

Porcupine

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Praying Mantis

The mantis can turn its head 180 degrees.

Puma

Has longer back legs than front legs!

Quail

Inhabits woodland and forest areas worldwide!

Quetzal

The tail feathers of the male can be 1m long!

Raccoon

Known to wash their food before eating it!

Rainbow Boa

The rainbow boa is named for its iridescent skin that refracts light and creates a rainbow-colored effect.

Rat

Omnivores that eat anything!

Rat Snakes

Rat snakes are constrictors from the Colubridae family of snakes.

Rattlesnake

Rattlesnakes may have evolved their rattle to warn bison away from them.

Ribbon Snake

Ribbon snakes love water, but are excellent climbers too.

River Turtle

Inhabits freshwater habitats around the world!

Robin

There are more than 45 species in Australia alone!

Rodents

The capybara, the world’s largest rodent, likes to be in and around bodies of water. Because of this, the Catholic Church in South America decided that it was a fish, and people were allowed to eat it during Lent and First Fridays.

Rooster

Will mate with the entire flock!

Rose-Breasted Grosbeak

This bird is also called cut-throat because the male looks like his throat has been cut and has bled over his breast.

Roseate Spoonbill

The only Spoonbill in the western hemisphere!

Ruddy Duck

Ruddy duck breeding males have bright blue bills!

Saber-Toothed Tiger

Canines up to 7 inches long!

Sable Ferret

Ferrets were used during the Revolutionary War to keep down the rat population.

Salamander

There are more than 700 different species!

Sand Crab

The sand crab burrows beneath the sand with its tail

Scale-Crested Pygmy Tyrant

They raise their crests to ward off predators

Scarlet Macaw

Like many parrots, the scarlet macaw is capable of vocal mimicry.

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Scissor-tailed flycatchers are known for their dramatically long tails!

Scorpion

There are around 2,000 known species!

Sea Eagle

The sea eagle tends to mate for life with a single partner

Seahorse

Males give birth to up to 1,000 offspring!

Sharp-Shinned Hawk

In captivity, sharp-shinned hawks can live up to 13 years. However, in the wild, this number is significantly reduced to 3 years!

Sheep

Around 35 million in the English countryside!

Short-Eared Owl

The short-eared owl is one of the most widespread owl species in the world, covering five continents.

Shrew

The spinal column of the shrew Scutisorex somereni is so strong and reinforced that it can support the weight of an adult human.

Shrimp

There are 2,000 different species worldwide!

Skink Lizard

Some skinks lay eggs in some habitats while giving birth to skinklets in other habitats.

Sloth

It's body temperature is between 30 - 34 degrees!

Slug

They glide around on one foot, which is aided by the slime they produce

Smokybrown Cockroach

Has up to 45 eggs per egg case

Snail

There are nearly 1,000 different species!

Snake

There are around 4,000 known species worldwide

Snowflake Eel

Snowflake Eel have two jaws to help them swallow their food.

Sparrow

There are 140 different species!

Spider Wasp

They prey on spiders to feed their larvae or they parasitize other spider wasps.

Squirrel

Small rodents found in woodlands worldwide!

Squirrel Monkey

Lives in groups of up to 500 individuals!

Stick Insect

There are more than 3,000 different species!

Stork

They can’t sing like other birds.

Swainson’s Hawk

Their wings form a “V” shape when flying.

Swallowtail Butterfly

N/A

Swan

Populations have been affected by pollution!

Tarantula Hawk

Tarantula hawks are excellent pollinators, especially for milkweed.

Termite

Their mounds can be up to 9 meters tall!

Thrush

The American robin is called the robin because its red breast reminded European settlers of the robin back in the old country.

Tick

They inject hosts with a chemical that stops them from feeling the pain of the bite

Tiger Beetle

The adult tiger beetle is one of the fastest land insects in the world

Tortoise

Can live until they are more than 150 years old!

Toucan

There are more than 40 different species!

Tree Cricket

They make music with their wings

Tree Frog

Found in warmer jungles and forests!

Tree swallow

The tree swallow can make more than a dozen distinct vocalizations

Turkey

Closely related to pheasants and chickens!

Turtles

Some species of aquatic turtles can get up to 70 percent of their oxygen through their butt.

Umbrellabird

Migrates up and down the mountains!

Upland Sandpiper

They make jerky movements as they walk through the grass, searching for food.

Vampire Bat

Have a heat sensor on the end of their nose!

Veery

The veery is named for its sharp "veer" call.

Vine Snake

A slender body and elongated snout give the vine snake a regal look.

Vinegaroon

Vinegaroons can spray 19 times before the glands are depleted

Vulture

There are 30 different species worldwide!

Wasp

There are around 75,000 recognised species!

Wattled Jacana

They are typically noisy birds but take on a soft tone with their young.

Western Kingbird

Western kingbirds have hidden red crown feathers that they can raise when threatened!

Western Tanager

They migrate farther north than any other tanager.

White-Faced Capuchin

One of the world's most intelligent monkeys!

White Ferret / Albino Ferrets

There are two different types of white ferrets!

White-tail deer

White-tail deer are good swimmers

Whitetail Deer

Although deer are herbivores, they will sometimes eat mice and birds when they can catch them.

Willow Flycatcher

These birds live in the understory and are named for their propensity for flitting between willows and shrubs.

Wolf Spider

Carnivorous arachnid that hunts its prey.

Wood Turtle

Temperature determines the sex of turtle eggs

Woodlouse

This animal can roll up into a ball

Woodpecker

There are 200 different species!

Worm

Doesn’t have eyes.

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker

The males are responsible for choosing the nesting tree most of the time. Luckily, cavity nests are often reused for multiple breeding seasons (up to 7 years.)

Yellow Spotted Lizard

Gives birth to live young.

Yellow Tanager (Black-and-Yellow Tanager)

They swallow soft fruit whole

Yellowthroat

They forage near the ground, searching leaves for insects

Zebra Tarantula

They can stay hidden in their burrows for months!

Costa Rican Animals List

About the Author

A-Z Animals Staff

AZ Animals is a growing team of animals experts, researchers, farmers, conservationists, writers, editors, and -- of course -- pet owners who have come together to help you better understand the animal kingdom and how we interact.