Green Iguana. Tortuguero National Park. Costa Rica. Costa Rica is a country rich in reptiles and amphibians. Among the latter, there are numerous species of colorful frogs (poisonous and non poisonous), and among reptiles, there are abundant species of iguanas (some large), snakes, exotic lizards, etc. etc. The green iguanas (Iguana iguana) are the most spectacular of the several species of iguanas that inhabit Costa Rica. Being cold-blooded animals, they are often seen posing in sunny areas of watercourses and rivers, where they take advantage of sunlight to regulate their body temperature. This green iguana stands proudly displaying its prehistoric anatomy, in the watercourses of Tortuguero.

Green iguana. Corcovado National Park. Many species of reptiles are able to display different colors on their skin depending on the circumstances. The green iguanas (Iguana iguana) are one such species, but despite their name these reptilians are not always seen as 'green' as on, for example, this occasion, when I took this photograph to a young specimen.

Green Iguana. Tortuguero National Park. Costa Rica.

Green iguana (C)

Helmeted iguana. Corcovado National Park. Costa Rica. The helmeted iguana or chameleon iguana (Coryphanes cristatus) has the ability of changing the color of its skin to blend with the environment, but it is not a chameleon itself or is directly related to those reptiles. The orange brown tones that can be seen in the photograph are the ones exhibited by this species at night, when the picture was taken. During the day, its color varies from light green to gray, transition for which this animal needs solar energy.

Common basilisk. Tortuguero National Park. Costa Rica. The common basilisk (Basilliscus basilliscus) is also called Jesus Christ Lizard, because it has the unique ability to literally walk over water. When it feels threatened, deploys a dermal lobes on the soles of its hind legs that act as fins. Then the basilisk begins a frantic two-leg race above the surface of water, heading deep into on the river or lake, where it feels safe.

Marine Iguana(Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

Tortuga Bay. Galápagos

Marine Iguana(Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

Isabela Island. Galápagos

Marine Iguana(Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

Isabela Island. Galápagos

Marine Iguana(Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

Isabela Island. Galápagos

Marine Iguana(Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

Plaza Sur Island. Galápagos

Marine Iguana(Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

Tortuga Bay. Galápagos

Marine Iguana(Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

Tortuga Bay. Galápagos

Marine Iguana(Amblyrhynchus cristatus)

Isabela Island. Galápagos

Male Iberian emerald lizard. One of the most beautiful lizards from the Iberian Peninsula. This photo was taken in full mating season of this species, when males present their most vivid colors. Las Villuercas, Cáceres. Extremadura (Spain).

Male Western Canaries Lizard

This is a popular species endemic to these islands. La Palma island, Canary Islands. Spain.

Hey!, I'm looking at you!. Male Western Canaries Lizard. La Palma island, Canary Islands. Spain.

With its bright colors, is easy to understand why this reptile is commonly called spiderman lizard. Maasai Mara.

Female agama, perfectly camouflaged among the bark of a dead tree. Maasai Mara.

Story of a failure. The anoles are the most often seen type of small reptiles throughout Central America, encompassing numerous species. Males are famous for displaying at will a big and showy bag of skin or dewlap that extends from their lower jaw to chest. I saw countless male anoles displaying their dewlap throughout my journey through Costa Rica, and on numerous occasions I tried to photograph them with their dewlap extended. I was just to take the camera and the anole to hide the dewlap. Furthermore, they stayed quiet and calm looking at me as if they were mocking me. My theory is that they think a photographer is not manly enough to constitute a possible competition for mating female anoles (that is the reason for their striking dewlap exhibition). Here is a photo of the repeated failure.

Nile monitor at Lake Baringo

Green sea turtle. Tortuguero National Park. Costa Rica. This green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) is in trance, at at the final stage of its phase of egg laying, at the light of dawn, on the Caribbean beaches of Tortuguero, in Costa Rica. During the egg laying, the mother is in a state of trance, highly vulnerable and defenseless. A female of this species can lay 100 to 200 eggs in a single night. These are buried into the sand on the beach, and are soaked by various nutritious substances which protect the eggs and the offspring against pathogens. Note: These photographs were taken by permission and without using flash or any artificial light, and under the supervision and guidance of a specialized biologist of Tortuguero National Park.