KnowKi

Key Places for biodiversity

Learn the wildlife of the Cloud Forests of Central America and the Northern Andes

Costa Rica · Panama · Colombia

Che Cloud Forests of Central America and the Northern Andes is one of E.O. Wilson's Key Places, irreplaceable for life on Earth. 14,525 species have research-grade observations there on iNaturalist, and KnowKi turns the most recorded into short lessons with real photos.

Talamancan and Cordillera Oriental montane forests

Start this trip in KnowKi →
Āki the kiwi, KnowKi's guide

Most recorded here

The species with the most research-grade observations on iNaturalist, and how many each has. Most recorded doesn't mean native.

Birds

  1. Green-crowned Brilliant Heliodoxa jacula4,030
  2. Lesser Violetear Colibri cyanotus3,285
  3. Resplendent Quetzal Pharomachrus mocinno3,267
  4. Violet Sabrewing Campylopterus hemileucurus2,714
  5. Talamanca Hummingbird Eugenes spectabilis2,416
  6. Purple-throated Mountain-gem Lampornis calolaemus2,236
  7. Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis1,842
  8. Fiery-throated Hummingbird Panterpe insignis1,694
  9. Scarlet-rumped Tanager Ramphocelus passerinii1,629
  10. Silver-throated Tanager Tangara icterocephala1,513

Plants

  1. Poor man's umbrella Gunnera insignis984
  2. Hot Lips Palicourea elata953
  3. Fire-star orchid Epidendrum radicans696
  4. Black-eyed Susan vine Thunbergia alata642
  5. Rattlesnake Plant Calathea crotalifera629
  6. Cacalote Gaultheria myrsinoides574
  7. Red twist heliconia Heliconia tortuosa529
  8. Cohitre Blanco Tradescantia zanonia472
  9. Beautiful large bromeliad Werauhia ororiensis403
  10. Beadplant Nertera granadensis400

Mammals

  1. White-nosed Coati Nasua narica3,068
  2. Central American Agouti Dasyprocta punctata1,296
  3. Red-tailed Squirrel Sciurus granatensis843
  4. Central American White-faced Capuchin Cebus imitator687
  5. Central American Spider Monkey Ateles geoffroyi525
  6. Variegated Squirrel Sciurus variegatoides521
  7. Mantled Howler Monkey Alouatta palliata480
  8. Baird's Tapir Tapirus bairdii433
  9. Mountain Lion Puma concolor371
  10. Hoffmann's Two-toed Sloth Choloepus hoffmanni368

Insects

  1. Oxydia trychiata992
  2. Central American Montane Tiger Beetle Pseudoxycheila tarsalis692
  3. Common Morpho Morpho helenor674
  4. Golden Froghopper Mahanarva costaricensis563
  5. Banded Peacock Anartia fatima484
  6. Mesoamerican Bumble Bee Bombus ephippiatus450
  7. Hübner's Olive Sphacelodes vulneraria411
  8. Mexican Silverspot Dione moneta404
  9. Anisoperas lurida402
  10. Hairy-headed leafcutter ant Atta cephalotes387

Spiders and kin

  1. Costa Rican Redleg Tarantula Abdomegaphobema mesomelas1,108
  2. Golden Silk Spider Trichonephila clavipes367
  3. Red-thighed Bromeliad Spider Cupiennius coccineus350
  4. Silver Garden Orbweaver Argiope argentata200
  5. Black-edged Bark Scorpion Centruroides limbatus188
  6. Spinybacked Orbweaver Gasteracantha cancriformis177
  7. Tengella radiata113

Reptiles

  1. Central American Eyelash-Viper Bothriechis nigroadspersus1,912
  2. Emerald Swift Sceloporus malachiticus1,581
  3. Side-striped palm pit viper Bothriechis lateralis1,240
  4. Middle American Ameiva Holcosus festivus872
  5. Terciopelo Bothrops asper393
  6. Border Anole Anolis limifrons362
  7. Humble Anole Anolis humilis320
  8. Common Blunt-headed Tree Snake Imantodes cenchoa272
  9. Helmeted Iguana Corytophanes cristatus250
  10. Neotropical Green Anole Anolis biporcatus248

Amphibians

  1. Red-eyed Tree Frog Agalychnis callidryas1,183
  2. Brilliant Forest Frog Lithobates warszewitschii1,025
  3. Giant Toad Rhinella horribilis717
  4. Masked Tree Frog Smilisca phaeota705
  5. Emerald Glass Frog Espadarana prosoblepon412
  6. Pygmy Rain Frog Pristimantis ridens356
  7. Golden-groined Robber Frog Pristimantis cruentus326
  8. Strawberry Poison Dart Frog Oophaga pumilio308
  9. Harlequin Treefrog Dendropsophus ebraccatus306
  10. Fitzinger's Robber Frog Craugastor fitzingeri294

How a trip works

A trip has its own trail of lessons: meet six species, match them to new photos, then practice with four choices. Species you learn go into your Fieldbook, and starting a trip earns its Passport stamp. Your home place stays as it is.

Start this trip in KnowKi →

Species lists and counts from research-grade observations on iNaturalist, as of October 2026. KnowKi is not affiliated with the E.O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation. Free, with no ads, no account and no purchases.