Costa Rica Wildlife Guide - Costa Rica - page 1042

Leatherback Turtle The gigantic 360kg leatherback sea turtle is much, much bigger
than the olive ridley, and is distinguished by its soft, leathery carapace, which has
seven ridges. It nests on the Pacific beaches of the Osa and Nicoya peninsulas.
Whale Migrating whales, which arrive from both the northern and southern hemi-
spheres, include orca, blue and sperm whales and several species of relatively un-
known beaked whale. Humpback whales are commonly spotted along the Pacific
coast.
Bottle-Nose Dolphin These charismatic, intelligent cetaceans are commonly sighted,
year-round residents of Costa Rica. Keep a lookout for them on the boat ride to Bahía
Drake.
Whale Shark Divers may encounter this gentle giant in the waters off Reserva Bioló-
gica Isla del Caño, the Golfo Dulce or Isla del Coco. The world's biggest fish, whale
sharks can reach 6m long and over 2000kg.
Manta Ray With wings that can reach 7m, the elegant manta ray is common in warm
Pacific waters, especially off the coast of Guanacaste and around the Bat and Catalina
islands.
Hammerhead Shark The intimidating hammerhead has a unique cephalofoil that en-
ables it to maneuver with incredible speed and precision. Divers can see enormous
schools of hammerheads around the remote Isla del Coco.