An endemic species is a species that is native to one specific country or area. In Costa Rica, there are a few endemic species of birds (including those of Cocos Island), many butterfly, mammal, and amphibian species, and hundreds of plant species. So why are there so many endemic species here? Well, one of the main reasons is the sheer number of different habitats within Costa Rica. There are mangroves, forests, swamps, and many miles of coastline. Another reason is while Costa Rica does have it's share of invasive species, they are not taking over the island.
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