Arenal Oasis Frog Watching Feb 2019

This evening we go for a frog watching night walk at the Arenal Oasis Ecolodge not far from our hotel, Nayara Spa & Gardens in La Fortuna.  Arenal Oasis is a small reserve with plenty of nocturnal animals such as spiders, bats, and in particular frogs.  As the sky grew darker, you start to hear the noise of the forest.  Crickets and grasshoppers chirping and all the different frogs croaking, ribbiting, grunting, and even barking.  I am by no means a fan of frogs but these tiny frogs are all very cute and pretty.  Of the 11 species we saw, my favorite is definitely the most photographed red-eyed tree frog native to the rainforests of Central America and if Costa Rica were to have a national frog, it would be this one.

Pygmy robber frog

The pygmy robber frog looks like it is wearing eyeliner

Strawberry or blue jeans poison dart frogs

Masked tree frog looks like it is wearing a green mask

Masked tree frog

Masked tree frog

Glass frog actually has no color.  Its translucent skin allows you to see its internal organs and provides great camouflage.

Shining my torch from underneath, you can see the internal organs and vessels and veins of the glass frog.  Pretty cool!

Crickets mating

Arenal Oasis Ecolodge

Arenal Oasis Ecolodge

Masked tree frog

Arenal Oasis Ecolodge

Arenal Oasis Ecolodge

Red-eyed tree frog has these red eyes as a defense mechanism.  When threatened, they open their eyes and the bright red color surprises the predators, giving them those precious few seconds to escape.

Red-eyed tree frog

Red-eyed tree frog

Red-eyed tree frog

Masked tree frog

Masked tree frog

Masked tree frog

While Costa Rica’s rainforests are still teeming with frogs, many species around the world are facing extinction.  Amphibians are known to be more susceptible to environmental and climate change than other animals.  It was a great opportunity to see them before they disappeared.

Next post will be on my day trip to the Cano Negro Wildlife Refuge.  Stay tuned!

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