3-Toed Sloth

The Discovery Beach House & Monkey House Private Nature Reserves in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica have abundant wildlife. Three species of monkeys, 2 species of sloths, tempesquintles, hundreds of bird species, coatimundis and other wildlife can be seen. Reptiles including iguanas and the Basilisk aka the “Jesus Christ” lizard because it walks/runs on water are frequent visitors.

You can either enjoy watching the wildlife from your Costa Rica vacation villa or hire a guide to take you through Manuel Antonio National Park for more in depth tour.

Meanwhile, here’s some in-depth information about the monkeys you’ll see.

Monkeys

Red-backed Squirrel Monkey, Saimiri oerstedii cilrinellus, Mono Titi

Distribution: Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica only.

Status and Habitat: This is the most threatened monkey in all of Central America. It is restricted to secondary growth of humid, Pacific slope forest. This subspecies has a gray face. Populations are protected in Manuel Antonio.

Habits: Large feeding groups of Red-backed Squirrel Monkeys create a flurry and are hard to miss. They forage by investigating every leaf, nook and cranny. Groups are active from shortly before dawn to dusk, with variable rest breaks during the day. They are often accompanied by mixed-species flocks of birds including Double-toothed Kites and Tawny-winged Woodcreepers, which hunt flying insects flushed out by the monkeys (Bronski and Scott, 1998). This species is arboreal, traveling with speed and agility at all levels of slender trees and lianas. Group size is normally 10-35. Females give birth to single young after a 7-month gestation. Births are usually during the wet season.

Calls: This monkey makes a variety of low-intensity calls including twitters, trills and chucks, and occasionally, louder yaps and squeals.

White-faced Capuchin, Cebus capuchin, Cara Blanca

Distribution: Costa Rica, and from west Honduras to west Ecuador

Status and Habitat: Often common in protected areas. Found in evergreen and deciduous forest, second growth, mangroves, and remnant forest.

Habits: When encountered an adult male of a group, may growl, (graah) and bare its teeth, shaking branches and dropping sticks on the observer. The White-faced capuchin uses all levels of the forest and travels on the ground to cross open areas, drink, or forage. Activity starts at first light, about 30 minutes before dawn. It is most active in the morning and late afternoon, sometimes sleeping at midday straddled over a large branch. The diet includes ripe fruit, buds and flowers, insects, small vertebrates, and bird eggs. Capuchins can sometimes be located by sounds made as they rummage through leaf litter or tear strips of bark searching for insects. Group size ranges from 5-30; large group disperse widely to forage males from neighboring groups vocalize and chase each other to defend their territory. Females give birth to one young, or occasionally twins, after 5-6 months gestation. Births are mainly during the dry season, and females breed every 1 to 2 years. (Natural History Review by Freese, 1983.)

Calls: Include growls, bark, whines, screams and chatters. Most calls are higher in pitch than calls of howler monkeys.

Mantled Howler Monkey, Alouatta palliata, Mono Congo

Distribution: Costa Rica, and from Vera Cruz in Mexico to west Ecuador lowlands.

Status and Habitat: Locally common and widespread in most forest types including remnant forest.

Habits: The loudest monkey in the world’s call can be heard for several kilometers. It is slow moving and spends a good deal of time resting or asleep during the day, slumped over large branches. It is large, sturdy. They walk or run on all fours with tails usually held below the body, curled at the tip. Howlers are the only new world monkeys that eat large quantities of leaves. Young leaves are preferred and may constitute three-quarters of the diet in the wet season; fruit, flowers and buds predominate in the dry season. They live in groups of 10-20 or more with 1-3 adult males, 5-10 adult females and their offspring. Breeding occurs year-round, with a birth peak in the dry season. Females give birth to single young and may breed every other year.

Calls: Include woofs, grunts, barks, and howls.

Please Don’t Feed the Monkeys

At some point during your stay at The Discovery Beach House & Monkey House Private Nature Reserves you’re going to see monkeys close up. Often, they are as curious about you as you are about them. While the urge to feed them may feel overwhelming, please don’t. The harm that feeding the monkeys inflicts far outweighs the fun. During your Costa Rica beach vacation, please don’t feed the monkeys.

10 Catastrophic Consequences of Feeding the Monkeys

1. Costa Rica Wildlife Law strictly forbids it.
2. They have no immunity to human disease and can die from bacteria on your hands.
3. It leads to aggressive behavior when they see humans as a source of food.
4. It leads to their dependence on humans and diminishes their survival skills.
5. Migration to areas where humans feed them increases their vulnerability to dog attacks.
6. Store bought bananas have pesticides, upset their delicate digestive systems and cause dental problems – a deadly combination.
7. To maintain their health monkeys must travel 17 kilometers per day. If you feed them they won’t leave.
8. Monkeys can pass on diseases to humans.
9. Pregnant females can give birth to malnourished or stillborn babies
10. It upsets the balance of their healthy lifestyle centered on eating wild fruits, insects, leaves and seeds.