I assisted Rafa in conducting a transect to identify plant species presence/absence the other day. I discovered that I don’t know the grasses (Poaceae) well, but most of the other macrophyte species, I’ve got down. I was also reminded that it’s generally a bad idea to have electronics in the wetland here around 3 pm, as that’s when the rains usually come. Luckily, it’s easy to see and hear the rain coming.
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| A Syrphid hover fly sits on an Echinodorus paniculatus flower. |  |
I’ve seen this submergant in three different wetlands and it’s not in my book. What is it?
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| Common in the shallower, west fringes of the wetland, I hadn’t encountered more than N. amazonum and N. pulchella prior to this year at Palo Verde. There are at least four other lily species I’m missing that have been documented in the Tempisque basin according to Crow. |  |
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This ostracod (seed shrimp) was stuck swimming in a pool formed atop a water lily. In general, they appear quite abundant, and this particular species/group are relatively large. That said, in the photograph to the left, there is a plant called Wolfiella next to the ostracod that is one of the smallest ‘macrophytes’ out here. In the other two photos you can see the legs or antenna the animal uses to propel itself.
I’ve collected many and may be able to say more about them in the future. |
I encounter leeches commonly in the wetland, particularly associated with decomposing macrophytes. I’ve never seen one attached to me, sucking blood, so I think they aren’t out for blood. Bernald has requested I catch a few, although this one got away after the second photograph…
| You may recall Trimorphodon from the photo I posted here (almost exactly 1 year ago!) and the BioGSC calendar this past year. Again, a fairly aggressive snake, but also very beautiful. This year, I discover that it’s had a name change (T. biscutatus to T. quadrupex). |  |
| A new snake species for me, I had misidentified this juvenile Senticolis (formally Elaphe) triaspis as Trimorphodon quadrupex (now distinct from biscutatus) (Savage and Bolanos 2009 Zootaxa), but the reddish color and round pupils didn’t sit well with me. When I keyed the snake out, I discovered that the juvenile is very different than the adult. Although it’s a very pretty, young constrictor, it’s fairly aggressive and has bitten several times – luckily, I didn’t misidentify a poisonous snake… |  |
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With the photographs I took of the snake, I discovered some anomalies on its head – Ticks! It’s a bit difficult to see here, but there are two ticks, buried deep behind its head. I’ve removed them, but the snake was completely ungrateful. |
Much more active than their adult counterparts, juvenile Ctenosaura seem to occupy the same habitat here as some of the Ameiva (maybe leptophys). Additionally, given that juvenile iguanas are more insectivorous than adults, they share some of the same food sources.
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