The Coqui “Little Frog”
The Common Coquí or Coquí (Eleutherodactylus coqui) is a frog native to Puerto Rico belonging to the Eleutherodactylus genus of the Leptodactylidae family. The species is named for the loud sound (sometimes reaching as high as 100 dB at a distance of 0.5 m) the males make at night. This sound serves two purposes. ‘CO’ serves to repel males and establish territory while the ‘QUI’ serves to attract females. Since the auditory systems of males and females respond preferentially to different notes of the male call, this is an example of a sex difference in a sensory system. The Common Coquí is a very important aspect of Puerto Rican culture and it has become an unofficial territorial symbol of Puerto Rico.
About 1 inch long, or the size of a thumb nail! It is a very popular creature throughout the island and enlivens the evenings with its timid ko-kee from which it get its name. The coquies begin to sing when the sun goes down at dusk, singing all night long until dawn. The male coquí sings – not the female. You can find the coquí nearly everywhere, from the margins of the forests where the areas receive large amounts of moisture, in highlands, lowlands, dry and arid places, even in caves depending on the species.
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