Anti-Predator Adaptations in Costa Rica

So, Oriana and I wanted to share some of the amazing things that we found in Costa Rica that applies to the topics we have covered in class. We traveled to a number of different locations and experienced a lot of different microclimates. Although we were there during the dry season we went to higher altitude cloud forests (with tons of rain), to very arid farmland and forests to a super humid nature reserve right along the Pacific ocean.

Here are a few of the anti-predator adaptations that we found (if anyone wants to go ahead and identify these organisms, feel free).

In most locations we saw plants with structure defenses in the form of thorns and spines.





We also found a number of animals with cryptic coloration. The coloration used by these animals varied based on the location that we found them.

This green lizard was in a cloud forests that had a lot of green and brown vegetation on the ground.


While this brown lizard was found in the dry and hot Pacific coast nature reserve.
This lizard was found in the same park as the brown one (very dry and sandy location).


We also found many blue morpho butterflies that have warning eyespots when their wings are closed.


Location, location, location!!! Huge termite mound high in a tree, possibly to avoid predation?


In response to plant defenses, this leaf miner insect left behind a pretty image.