New species of crab found in Costa Rica

Costa Rica contains 5% of the world's biodiversity with thousands of species of all kinds.

Recently discovered a new species of crab in the country, this was scientifically named as Johngarthia cocoenis which was found by a group of researchers from the University of Costa Rica in Cocos Island, one of the most diverse places in species of the Pacific of Costa Rica.

The leader of the research was the taxonomist of crustaceans Rita Vargas, who said in a detailed report, what were the differences with respect to other species of this type, according to the daily crhoy.com.

This new type of crab has a structure much more extreme in parts of his mouth (maxilipios) which are open and form while a lock between Yes, relatives of the same species, are more closed, completely blocked.

Cocos Island climate is tropical and this species has its mouth parts exposed, this because it develops in a very rainy environment and it is not necessary to retain moisture, according to the specialist.

Another significant feature of this new crustacean is the shape of its shell, which turns out to be different from the other types.

During the year 2009 a specialist of the UCR, Luis Lara identified a species of crab in fresh water, which is only known in the southern region of Costa Rica, it is called scientifically Allacanthos yawi.

Is called crabs to the decapods crustaceans characterized by having five pairs of legs, one of which is a clamp used to capture and handling of food, courtship, or the dispute territorial.

As arthropods they are granted an exoskeleton, which often acquires the character of a shell because it tends to be mineralized with calcium carbonate.

There are more than 4,000 species of animals which are called crabs, and most live near or within seas, rivers or lakes, although some only go to the water to breed.

Posted by Costa Developers

Costa Rica’s Wildlife Act Banning Sport Hunting .

costadevelopers.com

The jaguar, tapir, caiman and songbirds are now more protected in Costa Rica, thanks to a new law proposed and driven by its own citizens, banning sport hunting of any species.

Costa Rica, known for its reputation for Eco Tourism, became the first nation on the continent ban sport hunting this week.

The new Wildlife Act is also the first legislation passed by the mechanism of “popular initiative”, it was not submitted to Congress by deputies, but by the citizens themselves.

The rule was brought before the legislature with the initial support of 177,000 signatures collected by the Association for the Preservation of Flora and Fauna (Apreflofas).

According to the National System of Conservation (Sinac), last year 1296 were granted hunting licenses, 81 percent of them to kill or capture songbirds.

In addition, there were 171 hunting licenses and 77 to hunt small mammals.

From 2000 until last year, Costa Rican authorities have extended licenses 28,000 hunting but the new law will only permit hunting for subsistence, scientific research and monitoring of species overpopulation.

Those who hunt animals in Costa Rica will be fined up to $ 3,000 and, depending on the species, may even be sentenced to between two and four months in prison.

The custom of having wild animals as pets such as birds, iguanas, monkeys and raccoons also have to changed with the new legislation, which totally prohibits this practice and sets a fine of between $600 and $1,200.

But the law goes further and also sanctioned the export and trafficking of any species of flora or fauna, while creating a National Registry of Wildlife.

The passage of this law is to Costa Rica a step to preserve its image as environmentally friendly country, the main reason that each year receives more than two million who enjoy Costa Rica’s Eco Tourism.

One issue of concern now is how the 572 Rangers who now watch over 13,286 kilometers of protected land (26% of the national total), can cope with the hunters to enforce the law for Costa Rica that hosts almost 5% of the world’s biodiversity.

Posted by Costa Developers