Eleutherodactylus coqui
SUBFAMILY
Eleutherodactylinae
TAXONOMY
Eleutherodactylus coqui Thomas, 1966, 7.3 mi (11.8 km) south of Palmer, Puerto Rico.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Spanish: Coquí.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Males attain a snout-vent length of 2 in (50 mm) and females, 2.5 in (63 mm). The dorsum is shagreen with scattered small tubercles, and the venter is areolate. The snout is subacuninate, and the tympanum is distinct. The fingers and toes are long, unwebbed, and bear terminal, expanded, truncate discs. The dorsum is various shades of brown, commonly with a middorsal or pair of dorsolateral creamy tan stripes. A distinct dark brown bar extends from the nostrils through the reddish bronze eye to a point above the tympanum. The venter is grayish white.
DISTRIBUTION
This frog occurs throughout Puerto Rico to elevations of 3,900 ft (1,200 m). It has been introduced on St. Thomas and St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and into southern Florida, Louisiana, and Hawaii, United States.
HABITAT
The Puerto Rican coqui lives in nearly all regions of Puerto Rico; it inhabits humid montane forest, dry forest, gardens, and houses.
BEHAVIOR
This strictly nocturnal species takes refuge under objects, in axils of palms, and especially in bromeliads. At night it is active on the ground but usually on vegetation to heights of more than 50 ft (15 m). Individuals seldom move more than 20 ft (6.5 m) from their diurnal retreats, and when feeding at night they move no more than about 2 in (50 mm). Males establish territories by vocalization and are aggressive toward other males that enter their territories.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Feeding occurs on vegetation at night; the frogs consume vast quantities of insects, principally ants, crickets, and roaches, as well as spiders, snails, and even small frogs.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Breeding occurs throughout the year but is reduced in the driest times of the year (January through March). Males call at night. The call is a multiple note, "co-qui." The "co" solicits response from females, whereas the "qui" is a territorial call, which is repeated rapidly upon the intrusion of another male. Amplexus involves the male sitting on the body of the female with his arms around her body; fertilization is internal via cloacal apposition. Clutches of about 26 eggs are deposited on leaves of bromeliads or other plants. The female abandons the eggs, which are attended by the male, who commonly places his body over the eggs. Development is direct into a froglet within the egg capsule and requires 17–26 days. Late embryos develop a tubercle on the tip of the snout ("egg-tooth") that is used to rip open the capsule. Hatchings are about 0.23 in (6 mm) long. The frogs reach sexual maturity in less than one year and have a life span of four to five years. Females can breed as often as every 58 days.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This ubiquitous species is common throughout its range.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Exportation of plants, especially bromeliads, from Puerto Rico has resulted in the accidental introduction of the Puerto Rican coqui on the U.S. Virgin Islands, into Florida and Louisiana, and Hawaii, where there are no native frogs. People in Hawaii complain about the nocturnal "noise" made by the coqui. Because of its abundance and ease for study in Puerto Rico, this species has been investigated more thoroughly than any other tropical anuran.
