I report from Quepos, near Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the most popular tourist destinations in Costa Rica. As you might imagine, the place is silly with vendors and shops selling all manner of trinkets and tchotkes: t-shirts, postcards, carvings, you name it. And befitting Costa Rica’s ecotourist slant, much of this merchandise has a wildlife theme. Red-eyed tree frogs, sea turtles, toucans, geckoniform lizards—I’m sick of them all. I’ve searched high and low, through every shop and stall, here and elsewhere, and there is not a single anole-themed product to be found. Imagine the money to be made: slender anole postcards, elegant painted carvings of A. biporcatus. I’m sure I’m not the only ecotourist here thirsting after a little anoline piece of Costa Rica to take home as a beloved keepsake. Herpetological entrepeneurs, get to it!
- New Article on Anolis roosevelti and the Question of Its Survival - March 16, 2024
- Lizard Diving Champions: Trading Heat For Safety Underwater - March 15, 2024
- Do Large Brown Anoles Get the Most Mating Opportunities? - January 6, 2024
Jonathan Losos
Update, Jan. 6, 2011: As my Costa Rican trip wound down, I still had found no anole-themed merchandise. Then, just this morning, as I was sitting in the San Jose Airport Hampton Inn breakfast nook, eating my waffles and mango juice, I espied the gift shop. Being the sort of guy who checks out gift shops, I checked it out. And to my amazement, the first thing I espied was this: http://anoleannals.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=518. The lizard is even correctly identified as an anole! (A. biporcatus, to be exact). Needless to say, I bought out their inventory to encourage more product development in this vein.
Second update, Jan. 6, 2011, late morning: Clearly, Anole Annals has a wide and influential readership. Arriving at the San Jose Airport, I entered a Green Trails eco gift shop, only to discover—and purchase—this:http://anoleannals.wordpress.com/?attachment_id=519. I inquired at the counter, and the saleswoman said that this line of carvings was newly created, inspired by a sudden surge in demand for anole merchandise.
rglor
I’m concerned that the anole craftsmen will shut down their operation until they learn of your return to Costa Rica…
Jonathan Losos
Get to work, fellows! I’m headed back your way, and bringing a score of neophyte herpetologists with me!