Rainforest Publications' Fold-Out Pocket Field Guides are designed to slip into your pocket so that you can easily access our field guides and identify the flora and fauna you see while on your walks, hikes, and excursions through Costa Rica.

Rainforest Publications' Costa Rica Reptiles Fold-out Pocket Field Guide shows 126 of the 226 reptile species recorded for Costa Rica; both Costa Rica's crocodilians; 12 of 14 turtles; 42 of 73 lizards; and 70 of 137 snakes (including all 22 of the severely venomous snakes found in the country).

The illustrations on this fold-out field guide from Rainforest Publications were created by British naturalist, Robert Dean, who has lived and worked in Monteverde, Costa Rica, since the early 1990s.

Reptile measurements shown on the field guide are the approximate maximum lengths (not including tails in limbed species).

The illustration of each species on the field guide is accompanied by the name of the species in English, Spanish, and Latin. On the Rainforest Publications' Costa Rica reptiles field guide, the letters after the English name represent the distribution with Costa Rica:

  • A: reptiles typically found on the Atlantic side of Costa Rica, below 1500 meters; may be accompanied by N (north) or S (south);
  • P: reptiles typically found on the Pacific side of Costa Rica, below 1500 meters; may be accompanied by N (north) or S (south);
  • M: reptiles typically found in the Costa Rican mountains, above 1500 meters.
illustration of Fire-bellied Snake copyright (c) 2008 Mark Wainright, all rights reserved
sample illustration
Fire-belled Snake
Liophis epinephalus

Fold out pocket guides are approximately 24" by 8.75" (61 cm by 22 cm) when spread flat, and contain twelve 9 cm by 22 cm "pages" plus front and back cover pages. When folded, they are only approx. 3.5" by 8.75" (9 cm by 22 cm) and easily fit into your pocket.

Rainforest Publications gives donations for each guide sold to environmental and educational organizations. See our About Us page for a list of organizations that have benefited from the sales of our Field Guides.