Neotropical River Otter

Neotropical River Otter

This Neotropical River Otter (Lutra longicaudis) is eating an eel alive. The writhing creature didn’t stand a chance against the otter’s dexterous paws and sharp teeth, but it made a terrific holiday feast on a muddy bank of the Sarapiqui River. This photograph was taken on Christmas Day in 2010.

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Collared Aracaris Go Bananas

Collared Aracaris

At the lodge in Selva Verde, the staff keep some feeding platforms stocked with fresh fruit to lure the birds where they can easily be seen by visitors. One morning, ripe bananas were on the menu, and these Collared Aracaris (Pteroglossus torquatus) had a feast. They use their long, sharp beaks to break open the peels, tear off a piece of banana, toss it in the air, and gulp it down. I could watch them for hours.

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Blue-gray Tanagers

Blue-gray Tanagers

In the low light of a very rainy day in Selve Verde, these Blue-gray Tanagers (Thraupis episcopus) look a little more lilac than sky blue. This species is one of the most common Tanagers in Costa Rica, and lives all over the country. By the look of this pair, I think somebody is getting scolded!

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Collared Araçari

Collared Araçari

Collared Araçari (Pteroglossus torquatus) can be found on the Caribbean and north-Pacific coasts. They have black bands across their breasts and white on their upper mandibles, which differ from the Fiery-billed Araçari (Pteroglossus frantzii) native to the south-Pacific region. This Collared Araçari was photographed in Selva Verde.

All media is copyright costaricawildlife.net, 2013.