Panama Wildlife - 2011 Episode 3

It Itches: Racoon

It Itches: Sloth

Gallery Updates: Arachnids

As we make our way through all of the photo galleries, we plan on updating a mix each week. This week it has been Birds, Beaches and now Spiders. The Spider page is not one that will attract each person who is visiting Bocas del Toro or those who have been here before either for that matter, however, there are a number of people who are extremely interested in the arachnids. Thus we have the information available.

If you asked anyone with whom I grew up if I would make my home in the jungle one day, they would answer unequivocally "no." Yet, here I am. And I love it.

When I first arrived here in the jungle, I was not particularly happy to share my space with spiders. I have since gotten over it. I see the beauty in many of the spiders and in the webs that they weave. Now, I still dislike walking into a spider web and will avoid it if at all possible. I get all sticky and the sider must begin its work yet again.

Take at look at this gallery. Natalia Decastro Gonzalez has curated a nice set of eight legged creatures here in the jungle.

Hanging Sloth

Small Reptiles

Panama Wildlife - 2011 Episode 2

Jim added the Spanish names of some of the animals on this one. It is fun to see the names for each of the different wildlife in both English and Spanish. Enjoy!

Recent Wildlife Sightings

Thanks to Jim, Natalia and Ramon, we have lots of great wildlife photos. They each take so many photos that it is very hard for me to keep up with them. However, I went through and grabbed a few of my favorites from the past month or so to share with you today. These are just a sample of what you might encounter here during your stay. Have a great weekend.

Panama Wildlife - 2011 Episode 1

Here is the first episode for Panama Wildlife. We have had to change they way all of the videos are named on You Tube so that you can tell which episode you are selecting in a series. The episode number is listed first and the year follows.

Enjoy this one - it is short and sweet.

Sunning in Bocas del Toro, Panama - 3

The third in this series.



All photos by Natalia Decastro Gonzalez. Kitchsy Digitals Clothesline.

Sunning in Bocas del Toro, Panama - 2

The second in the sunning series. Try to say that three times fast.



All photos by Natalia Decastro Gonzalez. Kitchsy Digitals Clothesline.

Sunning in Bocas del Toro, Panama - 1

Natalia has put together a series of shots of different wildlife enjoying the sun. Here is the first in the series.



All photos by Natalia Decastro Gonzalez. Kitchsy Digitals Clothesline.

Racoon in the Jagua Tree

Every time I see these little guys in the trees around here it makes me smile. They just seem to have a sweet smile on their face. This photo Natalia snapped is a great one. Have a wonderful day where ever you are and whatever the weather you have been given today.

Dolphin in the bay

Red Frog

Blue land crab (Cardisoma guanhumi)

Right now at Tranquilo Bay we are having the reproductive migration of this curious animal. We have crabs all over the place, which is great, because this specie in some areas of the Caribbean has seen drastically reduced numbers . These crabs are intensively exploited as a food resource in some areas, however, in the areas where the animal it is not exploited as food the destruction of the habitat is the reason for the reduced population.

Photos by Natalia Decastro

Some data about them:

Young individuals are often very colourful, and as they grow older the colours tend to fade, females may be duller than males. This crab reaches sexual maturity in approximately 4 years, it is not uncommon for adult crabs to measure 10-11 cm and weigh up to 500 g.

This crab is a slow growing species compared to most other crabs, which makes it difficult for it to increase its population. While most crabs may require approximately 20 molts to reach maximum size, Cardisoma requires more than 60 molts.

One claw is usually considerably larger than the other. They feed throughout the day in shaded areas; however, if exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods, they prefer to feed at night. They are omnivores, but primarily feed on plant material, collected near the vicinity of its burrow.

The reproductive cycle is closely linked to seasonal weather patterns and lunar phase. Heavy rains in the spring initiate migrations. During this time they gain weight rapidly as foraging intensity is increased for the first few weeks of the migratory period. Males actively court ripe females during this period.

Fertilization is internal, and females carry external egg masses. Eggs are carried for approximately 2 weeks prior to hatching, and must be released into salt water for larvae to survive. The eggs hatch into free swimming larvae.

Turtle Nesting at the Zapatilla Cayes

Here are a couple of pages I put together to capture a once in a lifetime experience of some of our guests in August. This family was at the Zapatilla Cayes and it was about time to return to Tranquilo Bay. Ramon was working the beach doing his rounds looking for nesting females, but really it was quite early. He happened upon a nesting female. He told Jim and the guests to come see her and to come see what they do when they study the females to tag them, gather scientific information, etc. During this nesting season, Ramon and Natalia happened upon a female nesting during daylight hours twice. It is very unusual. If you calculated the odds of a family from New Jersey getting the chance to see this while on vacation here in Panama - the odds would be very very low. However, luck was on their side and they experienced something that so few people in the world have a chance to experience. Here are the photos.

Girl time

Looking for the green eel that lives in the coral by the dock.



Walking into the shade



Enjoying her vacation



Smiling for the camera

Baby Hawksbill

This video is extremely over due. This is from November 2008. I just got some new editing software which makes it much easier to pull the videos together so watch out...

Big male green iguana...

Here are some more photos of the kids checking out the iguana from earlier this month. They loved it.