| |
|
|
| |
#
of species of monkeys found in Costa Rica
4
Species
seen today
3
SNumber
of individual monkeys seen this morning (2 1/2
hours)
26
|
|
| |
|
|
 |
Lesson
Plans
|
|
|
|
 |
|
Monkeying
Around in Tortuguero
| Wow!
Today was awesome! We are in the small town of Tortuguero,
along the Caribbean coast. This morning, Pika, Dave, our
new friend, Kencho, and I took off in a small boat to
go explore the inland canals that run along the coast
line. We entered El
Parque Nacional de Tortuguero and began our day of
endless critter-spotting. Right away, we spotted a troop
of howler
monkeys. We've seen howler monkeys just about every
day since we left San Jose. And even though, howlers are
really cool animals, I've been itching to see the other
three species of monkey in Costa Rica. |
|
Click
on photo to enlarge
We
watched this white-faced capuchin monkey for a long
time as it foraged from food in the trees right over
our canoe!
|
Costa
Rica is home to howler monkeys, spider
monkeys,
squirrel monkeys, and white-faced capuchin monkeys.
All but the spider monkey are found near Tortuguero.
The squirrel monkey lives on the Pacific coast of Costa
Rica, and are very elusive.
Kencho
has an uncanny ability to spot wildlife. Pika says he
can smell the animals. But when I asked Kencho if that
was true, he just laughed.
|
|
However,
Kencho was able to spot three white-faced capuchins
in the trees. Capuchins were near the top of my wish-list
of animals to see while in Costa Rica. They are the
only monkey found in Costa Rica that is not strickly
arboreal, meaning they will come down to the ground
on their own. The other species of monkeys stay in the
tops of the trees, and only come down if they should
fall, or come to the ground on a very limited basis.
Capuchins are omniverous animals, meaning they eat both
plants and animals. They mostly feed on the leaves and
fruits of plants, but will also feed on insects, small
lizards and snakes, even small birds and rodents. Some
of their favorite food is the many bats found in Costa
Rica.
|
Click
on photo to enlarge
It
is makes me feel disgusted when I think about the
fact that deforestation is causing a rapid decline
in the populations of so many plants and animals,
including the white-faced capuchin monkey.
|
| Capuchins
are about the size of a football, but their tail is about
one and a half times their body length. They use their
tail to hang from branches, and their bright white face
adds to their cuteness.
Capuchins
are very shy, and very skiddish. We had to remain pretty
quiet, but just getting the chance to see capuchins
up-close and in their natural environment made my day.
Frosty
|
Critters
of Costa Rica Index
|
