Snakes of Costa Rica

By: Kara Galle and Laura Manley



Dinosaurs and snakes roamed the world together 67 million years ago. We as humans have said to have been around for about 160,000 years. That is an enormous difference.


Legless, armless, scaly and slithery are all reasons people tend to be afraid of snakes. There are close to 3000 different varieties of snakes in the world. Snakes belong in the reptile family along with lizards. The life expectancy of a snake is a range from 12 to 40 years. Snakes don’t see, smell, or hear. Snakes use heat sensors behind their eye sockets to sense heat or prey.
Costa Rica accounts for about 135 different varieties of snakes. 17 of which are venomous. The snakes of Costa Rica have 9 different families. Some include Coral snakes, Boas, Vipers and tropical snakes.


The snakes of Costa Rica tend to mind their own business. Snakes are nocturnal keeping them from being out hunting during the day. One may be relieved to hear that most tourists don’t see any snakes during their visit to Costa Rica.