White-lipped Mud Turtle
̶This particular turtle, about 6-7” long, was probably a female. I found and sketched her crossing Hydro Road just south of the Arenal exit when the area was still planted with orange groves.
Reptiles
Green Iguana
We see green iguanas down along the Macal, where 5′ long orange males sun themselves in the trees overhanging the water along with smaller 2′-3′ females and juveniles.
Yellow-jaw Tommygoff, Terciopelo
You’re not likely to see a yellow-jaw since it’s nocturnal, but if you do, it will probably be in the road at night, which means that it’s smart to take along a flashlight on nocturnal walks.
Turnip-tailed Gecko
In the tropics the nocturnal Turnip-tailed Gecko is the invisible “bird” chirping up in living room rafters at night. Some say it chirps after nabbing a tasty moth, spider, or cockroach, and if that’s the case, more power to it. But it’s more likely that the chirps are used to establish and proclaim territories.