Plants & Animals of Costa Rica

270 species — 0 curated with local names, 270 regional · Americas · Spanish.

Regional highlights

Amazon, Andean and boreal ecosystems with extreme plant diversity
Origin of maize, cacao, cassava, chilli, potato and quinine
Jaguar, macaw and tapir among flagship rainforest species

Regional species

Tambaqui
Colossoma macropomum
Serrasalmidae
fisheries
Leafcutter ant
Atta cephalotes
Formicidae
fungus farming
Sapodilla
Achras zapota
Sapotaceae
fruitchicle
Love-lies-bleeding
Amaranthus caudatus
Amaranthaceae
grainornamental
Cherimoya
Annona cherimola
Annonaceae
fruit
Sugar apple
Annona squamosa
Annonaceae
fruit
Pinto peanut
Arachis pintoi
Fabaceae
foragecover crop
Common milkweed
Asclepias syriaca
Apocynaceae
monarch host plant
Wild pineapple
Bromelia pinguin
Bromeliaceae
fruithedge
Gumbo-limbo
Bursera simaruba
Burseraceae
living fenceresin
Santa Maria tree
Calophyllum brasiliense
Calophyllaceae
timberoil
Aji pepper
Capsicum baccatum
Solanaceae
spice
Pecan
Carya illinoinensis
Juglandaceae
nuts
Peruvian apple cactus
Cereus repandus
Cactaceae
fruithedge
Calabash tree
Crescentia cujete
Bignoniaceae
containerscough
Butternut squash
Cucurbita moschata
Cucurbitaceae
food
Dahlia
Dahlia pinnata
Asteraceae
ornamentaltuber
American persimmon
Diospyros virginiana
Ebenaceae
fruit
Cockspur coral tree
Erythrina crista-galli
Fabaceae
ornamentalnational flower
Coca
Erythroxylum coca
Erythroxylaceae
altitudestimulant leaf
Lignum vitae
Guaiacum officinale
Zygophyllaceae
dense timberresin
West Indian elm
Guazuma ulmifolia
Malvaceae
fodderfruit
Jerusalem artichoke
Helianthus tuberosus
Asteraceae
tuberinulin
Physic nut
Jatropha curcas
Euphorbiaceae
biodieselhedge
Black walnut
Juglans nigra
Juglandaceae
nutstimber
Brazilian plume (Blood of Jesus)
Justicia carnea
Acanthaceae
anaemiablood tonic
Bushy lippia
Lippia alba
Verbenaceae
teacalming
Lancepod
Lonchocarpus sericeus
Fabaceae
fish poisontimber
Andean lupin (tarwi)
Lupinus mutabilis
Fabaceae
protein grain
Maypop
Passiflora incarnata
Passifloraceae
anxietysleep
Lima bean
Phaseolus lunatus
Fabaceae
pulse
Ponderosa pine
Pinus ponderosa
Pinaceae
timber
Frangipani
Plumeria rubra
Apocynaceae
fragranceornamental
Eastern cottonwood
Populus deltoides
Salicaceae
timber
Mesquite
Prosopis juliflora
Fabaceae
fuelwoodfodder
Mamey sapote
Pouteria sapota
Sapotaceae
fruit
Chia
Salvia hispanica
Lamiaceae
seedsomega-3
Sarsaparilla
Smilax ornata
Smilacaceae
drinkskin
Naranjilla
Solanum quitoense
Solanaceae
fruit juice
Jocote
Spondias purpurea
Anacardiaceae
fruit
Mexican marigold
Tagetes erecta
Asteraceae
ritualpest control
Cupuaçu
Theobroma grandiflorum
Malvaceae
fruitbutter
Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
Tropaeolaceae
edible flowersantibiotic
Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
Ericaceae
fruitantioxidant
Vetiver
Vetiveria zizanioides
Poaceae
erosion controlperfume
Teosinte
Zea mays subsp. mexicana
Poaceae
maize ancestor
American alligator
Alligator mississippiensis
Alligatoridae
wetland predator
Turquoise-fronted amazon
Amazona aestiva
Psittacidae
talking parrot
Anhinga
Anhinga anhinga
Anhingidae
snakebird
Limpkin
Aramus guarauna
Aramidae
snail specialist
Great blue heron
Ardea herodias
Ardeidae
wetland bird
Red-faced spider monkey
Ateles paniscus
Atelidae
rainforest primate
Blue whale
Balaenoptera musculus
Balaenopteridae
largest animal ever
Common basilisk
Basiliscus basiliscus
Corytophanidae
runs on water
Fer-de-lance
Bothrops asper
Viperidae
venomous snake
Pale-throated sloth
Bradypus tridactylus
Bradypodidae
canopy dweller
Canada goose
Branta canadensis
Anatidae
migratory bird
Red-tailed hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Accipitridae
raptor
Coyote
Canis latrans
Canidae
adaptable carnivore
Loggerhead turtle
Caretta caretta
Cheloniidae
marine reptile
North American beaver
Castor canadensis
Castoridae
dam builder
Turkey vulture
Cathartes aura
Cathartidae
scavenger
Snapping turtle
Chelydra serpentina
Chelydridae
freshwater turtle
Chinchilla
Chinchilla lanigera
Chinchillidae
soft furpet
Linnaeus's two-toed sloth
Choloepus didactylus
Choloepodidae
slow mammal
American crocodile
Crocodylus acutus
Crocodylidae
coastal predator
Western diamondback rattlesnake
Crotalus atrox
Viperidae
venomous snake
Blue jay
Cyanocitta cristata
Corvidae
garden bird
Dyeing poison frog
Dendrobates tinctorius
Dendrobatidae
toxic skin
Virginia opossum
Didelphis virginiana
Didelphidae
marsupial
Leatherback turtle
Dermochelys coriacea
Dermochelyidae
largest turtle
Tayra
Eira barbara
Mustelidae
forest carnivore
Electric eel
Electrophorus electricus
Gymnotidae
electric discharge
Sea otter
Enhydra lutris
Mustelidae
keystone species
Common loon
Gavia immer
Gaviidae
northern lake bird
Snowshoe hare
Lepus americanus
Leporidae
seasonal coat
North American river otter
Lontra canadensis
Mustelidae
river mammal
Bobcat
Lynx rufus
Felidae
wild cat
Woolly mammoth
Mammuthus primigenius
Elephantidae
extinct ice-age giant
West Indian manatee
Manatus manatus
Trichechidae
sea cow
Honey badger
Mellivora capensis
Mustelidae
fearless mammal
Striped skunk
Mephitis mephitis
Mephitidae
defensive spray
South American coati
Nasua nasua
Procyonidae
forest omnivore
Walrus
Odobenus rosmarus
Odobenidae
Arctic tusked mammal
Bighorn sheep
Ovis canadensis
Bovidae
mountain mammal
Collared peccary
Pecari tajacu
Tayassuidae
forest pig-like mammal
Brown pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Pelecanidae
coastal bird
American flamingo
Phoenicopterus ruber
Phoenicopteridae
pink wading bird
Surinam toad
Pipa pipa
Pipidae
back-brooding frog
Arrau turtle
Podocnemis expansa
Podocnemididae
river turtle
Raccoon
Procyon lotor
Procyonidae
urban omnivore
Red-bellied piranha
Pygocentrus nattereri
Serrasalmidae
schooling fish
Greater rhea
Rhea americana
Rheidae
flightless bird
Cotton-top tamarin
Saguinus oedipus
Callitrichidae
critically endangered
King vulture
Sarcoramphus papa
Cathartidae
scavenger
Scalloped hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
Sphyrnidae
endangered shark
Humboldt penguin
Spheniscus humboldti
Spheniscidae
coastal penguin
Baird's tapir
Tapirus bairdii
Tapiridae
forest browser
White-lipped peccary
Tayassu pecari
Tayassuidae
herd animal
Yellowfin tuna
Thunnus albacares
Scombridae
food fish
American robin
Turdus migratorius
Turdidae
garden bird
Alpaca
Vicugna pacos
Camelidae
fibre
African clawed frog
Xenopus laevis
Pipidae
lab animal
Mango
Mangifera indica
Anacardiaceae
Mango (Spanish)
edible fruitleaf tea
Papaya
Carica papaya
Caricaceae
Papaya (Spanish)
edible fruitdigestive
Aloe vera
Aloe vera
Asphodelaceae
Sábila (Spanish)
burnsskin care
Ginger
Zingiber officinale
Zingiberaceae
Jengibre (Spanish)
spicecold & flu
Turmeric
Curcuma longa
Zingiberaceae
Cúrcuma (Spanish)
spiceanti-inflammatory
Basil
Ocimum basilicum
Lamiaceae
culinary herbdigestive
Garlic
Allium sativum
Amaryllidaceae
Ajo (Spanish)
spiceblood pressure
Guava
Psidium guajava
Myrtaceae
Guayaba (Spanish)
edible fruitdiarrhoea
Coconut palm
Cocos nucifera
Arecaceae
Coco (Spanish)
oildrinkfibre
Moringa
Moringa oleifera
Moringaceae
Moringa (Spanish)
nutritionhypertension
House sparrow
Passer domesticus
Passeridae
urban bird
Western honey bee
Apis mellifera
Apidae
Abeja (Spanish)
honeypollination
Rock dove
Columba livia
Columbidae
urban bird
Barn swallow
Hirundo rustica
Hirundinidae
migratory bird
Cattle egret
Bubulcus ibis
Ardeidae
farmland bird
Lemon
Citrus limon
Rutaceae
fruitvitamin C
Sweet orange
Citrus sinensis
Rutaceae
fruitjuice
Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
Solanaceae
foodlycopene
Bird's eye chilli
Capsicum frutescens
Solanaceae
spice
Pumpkin
Cucurbita pepo
Cucurbitaceae
foodseeds
Okra
Abelmoschus esculentus
Malvaceae
soupfibre
Bitter melon
Momordica charantia
Cucurbitaceae
blood sugarfood
Lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus
Poaceae
teafever
Castor bean
Ricinus communis
Euphorbiaceae
oilindustrial
Sesame
Sesamum indicum
Pedaliaceae
oilseeds
Groundnut
Arachis hypogaea
Fabaceae
foodoil
Sugarcane
Saccharum officinarum
Poaceae
sugarjuice
Sweet potato
Ipomoea batatas
Convolvulaceae
staple food
Madagascar periwinkle
Catharanthus roseus
Apocynaceae
alkaloidsornamental
Brown rat
Rattus norvegicus
Muridae
commensal mammal
Peregrine falcon
Falco peregrinus
Falconidae
raptor
Monarch butterfly
Danaus plexippus
Nymphalidae
migratory insect
Green sea turtle
Chelonia mydas
Cheloniidae
marine reptile
Barn owl
Tyto alba
Tytonidae
rodent control
Nile tilapia
Oreochromis niloticus
Cichlidae
aquaculture
Silver fir
Abies alba
Pinaceae
timberessential oil
Century plant
Agave americana
Asparagaceae
fibresyrup
Onion
Allium cepa
Amaryllidaceae
foodantibacterial
Spring onion
Allium fistulosum
Amaryllidaceae
food
Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
Amaryllidaceae
culinary herb
Red amaranth
Amaranthus cruentus
Amaranthaceae
grainleaf vegetable
Smooth pigweed
Amaranthus hybridus
Amaranthaceae
leaf vegetable
Cedar of Lebanon
Cedrus libani
Pinaceae
timbernational tree
Jimsonweed
Datura stramonium
Solanaceae
toxicasthma (historic)
Fig
Ficus carica
Moraceae
fruit
Aubergine
Solanum melongena
Solanaceae
vegetable
Eurasian sparrowhawk
Accipiter nisus
Accipitridae
raptor
Common myna
Acridotheres tristis
Sturnidae
urban bird
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Anatidae
dabbling duck
Common swift
Apus apus
Apodidae
aerial insectivore
Grey heron
Ardea cinerea
Ardeidae
wetland bird
Common buzzard
Buteo buteo
Accipitridae
raptor
Grey wolf
Canis lupus
Canidae
apex predator
Domestic dog
Canis familiaris
Canidae
companionworking animal
Great white shark
Carcharodon carcharias
Lamnidae
apex marine predator
Goldfish
Carassius auratus
Cyprinidae
ornamental fish
Seven-spot ladybird
Coccinella septempunctata
Coccinellidae
aphid control
Mute swan
Cygnus olor
Anatidae
ornamental waterfowl
Common carp
Cyprinus carpio
Cyprinidae
food fish
Horse
Equus caballus
Equidae
transportsport
Donkey
Equus asinus
Equidae
pack animal
Common kestrel
Falco tinnunculus
Falconidae
hovering raptor
Domestic cat
Felis catus
Felidae
companion animal
Chaffinch
Fringilla coelebs
Fringillidae
songbird
Chicken
Gallus gallus domesticus
Phasianidae
eggsmeat
Herring gull
Larus argentatus
Laridae
coastal bird
House mouse
Mus musculus
Muridae
commensal rodent
Orca
Orcinus orca
Delphinidae
apex marine predator
Chimpanzee
Pan troglodytes
Hominidae
closest human relative
Great tit
Parus major
Paridae
garden bird
Black redstart
Phoenicurus ochruros
Muscicapidae
urban bird
Sperm whale
Physeter macrocephalus
Physeteridae
deep diver
Common pipistrelle
Pipistrellus pipistrellus
Vespertilionidae
insect-eating bat
Black rat
Rattus rattus
Muridae
commensal rodent
Whale shark
Rhincodon typus
Rhincodontidae
largest fish
Atlantic mackerel
Scomber scombrus
Scombridae
food fish
Common starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Sturnidae
murmuration bird
Wild boar
Sus scrofa
Suidae
forest omnivore
Domestic pig
Sus scrofa domesticus
Suidae
meat
Atlantic bluefin tuna
Thunnus thynnus
Scombridae
prized food fish
Common blackbird
Turdus merula
Turdidae
garden songbird
Bottlenose dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
Delphinidae
intelligent cetacean
Northern lapwing
Vanellus vanellus
Charadriidae
farmland wader
Mourning dove
Zenaida macroura
Columbidae
common bird
Viviparous lizard
Zootoca vivipara
Lacertidae
live-bearing lizard
Maize
Zea mays
Poaceae
Maíz (Spanish)
staple food
Cacao
Theobroma cacao
Malvaceae
Cacao (Spanish)
chocolateritual
Cassava
Manihot esculenta
Euphorbiaceae
Yuca (Spanish)
staple food
Chilli pepper
Capsicum annuum
Solanaceae
spicecirculation
Avocado
Persea americana
Lauraceae
fruithealthy fats
Pineapple
Ananas comosus
Bromeliaceae
fruitdigestion
Cat's claw
Uncaria tomentosa
Rubiaceae
immune tonic
Yerba mate
Ilex paraguariensis
Aquifoliaceae
beverageenergy
Quinine tree
Cinchona officinalis
Rubiaceae
antimalarial
Giant sequoia
Sequoiadendron giganteum
Cupressaceae
old-growth forest
Jaguar
Panthera onca
Felidae
apex predator
Blue-and-yellow macaw
Ara ararauna
Psittacidae
rainforest bird
White-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Cervidae
forest herbivore
Brown-throated sloth
Bradypus variegatus
Bradypodidae
canopy dweller
South American tapir
Tapirus terrestris
Tapiridae
seed disperser
Grey squirrel
Sciurus carolinensis
Sciuridae
urban mammal
Potato
Solanum tuberosum
Solanaceae
staple food
Quinoa
Chenopodium quinoa
Amaranthaceae
protein grain
Common bean
Phaseolus vulgaris
Fabaceae
proteinstaple
Winter squash
Cucurbita maxima
Cucurbitaceae
food
Sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Asteraceae
oilseeds
Tobacco
Nicotiana tabacum
Solanaceae
ritualcash crop
Vanilla
Vanilla planifolia
Orchidaceae
flavouring
Annatto (achiote)
Bixa orellana
Bixaceae
dyespice
Brazil nut
Bertholletia excelsa
Lecythidaceae
nutselenium
Açaí palm
Euterpe oleracea
Arecaceae
fruitantioxidant
Peach palm
Bactris gasipaes
Arecaceae
fruitpalm heart
Rubber tree
Hevea brasiliensis
Euphorbiaceae
latex
Big-leaf mahogany
Swietenia macrophylla
Meliaceae
timber
Spanish cedar
Cedrela odorata
Meliaceae
timber
Kapok
Ceiba pentandra
Malvaceae
fibresacred tree
Passion fruit
Passiflora edulis
Passifloraceae
fruitcalming
Soursop
Annona muricata
Annonaceae
fruitleaf tea
Cape gooseberry
Physalis peruviana
Solanaceae
fruit
Yacón
Smallanthus sonchifolius
Asteraceae
prebiotictuber
Maca
Lepidium meyenii
Brassicaceae
staminaandean crop
Guaraná
Paullinia cupana
Sapindaceae
stimulantdrink
Dragon's blood
Croton lechleri
Euphorbiaceae
wound healing
Pink ipê (pau d'arco)
Handroanthus impetiginosus
Bignoniaceae
bark teatimber
Blue agave
Agave tequilana
Asparagaceae
tequilasyrup
Prickly pear
Opuntia ficus-indica
Cactaceae
fruitblood sugar
Creosote bush
Larrea tridentata
Zygophyllaceae
desert shrub
Purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea
Asteraceae
immunity
American ginseng
Panax quinquefolius
Araliaceae
adaptogen
Sugar maple
Acer saccharum
Sapindaceae
maple syruptimber
White oak
Quercus alba
Fagaceae
timberbarrels
Eastern white pine
Pinus strobus
Pinaceae
timber
Douglas fir
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Pinaceae
timberforestry
Coast redwood
Sequoia sempervirens
Cupressaceae
tallest trees
Quaking aspen
Populus tremuloides
Salicaceae
clonal forest
Cranberry
Vaccinium macrocarpon
Ericaceae
urinary healthfruit
Wild rice
Zizania palustris
Poaceae
indigenous staple
Puma
Puma concolor
Felidae
wide-ranging predator
Ocelot
Leopardus pardalis
Felidae
forest cat
Spectacled bear
Tremarctos ornatus
Ursidae
andean bear
American black bear
Ursus americanus
Ursidae
forest omnivore
Polar bear
Ursus maritimus
Ursidae
arctic predator
Elk / wapiti
Cervus canadensis
Cervidae
large deer
Pronghorn
Antilocapra americana
Antilocapridae
fastest american mammal
American bison
Bison bison
Bovidae
prairie megafauna
Llama
Lama glama
Camelidae
pack animalwool
Vicuña
Vicugna vicugna
Camelidae
fine wool
Capybara
Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris
Caviidae
largest rodent
Giant anteater
Myrmecophaga tridactyla
Myrmecophagidae
insectivore
Nine-banded armadillo
Dasypus novemcinctus
Dasypodidae
burrowing mammal
Geoffroy's spider monkey
Ateles geoffroyi
Atelidae
canopy primate
Mantled howler
Alouatta palliata
Atelidae
loud primate
Squirrel monkey
Saimiri sciureus
Cebidae
rainforest primate
Amazon river dolphin
Inia geoffrensis
Iniidae
freshwater cetacean
West Indian manatee
Trichechus manatus
Trichechidae
coastal herbivore
Harpy eagle
Harpia harpyja
Accipitridae
rainforest raptor
Andean condor
Vultur gryphus
Cathartidae
high-altitude scavenger
Toco toucan
Ramphastos toco
Ramphastidae
fruit-eating bird
Scarlet ibis
Eudocimus ruber
Threskiornithidae
wetland bird
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Accipitridae
national bird
Wild turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Phasianidae
game bird
Boa constrictor
Boa constrictor
Boidae
constrictor
Green anaconda
Eunectes murinus
Boidae
largest snake
Green iguana
Iguana iguana
Iguanidae
arboreal reptile
Spectacled caiman
Caiman crocodilus
Alligatoridae
wetland predator
Strawberry poison frog
Oophaga pumilio
Dendrobatidae
toxic amphibian
Arapaima
Arapaima gigas
Arapaimidae
giant river fish