Archive for wildlife
Wildlife Costa Rica – 9 Truths About Squirrel Monkeys
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These are part of the family of the New World Monkeys and one of the 4 species of monkeys living in Costa Rica. Their full name is Black Crowned Central American Squirrel Monkeys and can be found in the tropical forests of the Pacific Coasts of Costa Rica.
Here are some truths about them:
1. Unlike the other New World monkeys, their tail is not used for climbing, but as a kind of “balancing pole” and as a tool.
2. Squirrel monkey’s fur is short and close. Its color is olive at the shoulders and yellowish orange on its back and extremities. Their throat and the ears are white and their mouths are black. Their head is orange or reddish-orange in color, with a black cap.
3. Squirrel monkeys are omnivores. They love eating fruits and insects. Occasionally they also eat nuts, buds, eggs and small vertebrates.
4. Squirrel monkeys are very small. They only grow up to 25 to 35 cm, plus a 35 to 42 cm tail.
5. These mammals live about 15 years old in the wild and about 20 years in captivity.
6. They are diurnal and arboreal. Their movements in the branches are extremely speedy.
7. They live together in multi-male/multi-female groups with up to 500 members. These large groups can, however, occasionally break into smaller troops.
8. By 1983, the Central American squirrel monkey had already declined drastically by deforestation. Currently, deforestation and habitat fragmentation due to agriculture and tourism development are still the major causes of decline. Insecticide spraying, the pet trade and electrocution from electric power lines have also negatively affected these monkeys. They are in the endangered list.
9. Squirrel monkeys spread urine on the bottoms of the hands and feet. So other monkeys can smell this as it marks the territory.
Don’t miss all the other interesting articles about Traveling in Costa Rica here!
Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica
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Cahuita National Park is located on Costa Rica’s southern Caribbean coast, 43 km south of Limon. It is best known for it’s beige white sandy beaches, surrounded by coconut palms and warm crystalline waters. And the most developed coralline reefs of the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica.
Why visit Cahuita National Park? For the beaches, snorkeling, scuba
divers, and all around nature lovers. The climate here is hot and humid. It rains all year round, so the vegetation is lush and tropical. The coconut palms grow right up to the shoreline, swaying in the tropical breezes. You really get the feel of being in the jungle. You see monkeys, sloths, iguanas, raccoons, coatis, and so many birds! Such as green ibises, tiger herons, toucans, hummingbirds, and river kingfishers.
There is a specific area of the park designated for swimming in the ocean so ask a park ranger or one of the locals.
Here you get the feeling that life is relaxed and unhurried. Most of the businesses are locally owned and people live the true “pura vida” or pure life.
In the small town of Cahuita, located adjacent to the National Park, we find the Afro-Caribbean culture. Many of the restaurants serve typical Afro Caribbean food such as rice cooked in coconut milk, shrimp fried with coconut, coconut cake and coconut pies. And at night the sounds of Reggae music is heard from the lively bars, restaurants, and front porches of the locals.
Read more of Ann’s resourceful articles from her on-line Costa Rica Travel Guide at www.costaricalearn.com
