CoquÃÂ () is a common name for several species of small frogs in the genus Eleutherodactylus, native to Puerto Rico. They are onomatopoeically named for the very loud mating call which the males of two species, the common coqui and the upland coqui, make at night. The coquÃÂ is one of the most common frogs in Puerto Rico, with more than 20 different species found within its territory, including 13 in El Yunque National Forest. Fossil and genetic evidence supports coquÃÂs having inhabited Puerto Rico for more than 30 million years. Other species of this genus can be found in the rest of the Caribbean and elsewhere in the Neotropics, in Central and South America. The coquÃÂ is an unofficial national symbol of Puerto Rico; there is a Puerto Rican expression that goes, "", which translates to "I'm from here, like the coquÃÂ."
Eleutherodactylus spp. are small tree frogs that can vary in color. These frogs can be a mixture of brown, yellow, green, and gray on the top and either white or yellow on the bottom side of their body. The eye color is a variation of brown and gold. They can range in size from . The first word of the species' scientific classification is the genus name Eleutherodactylus which is Ancient Greek and Modern Greek for "free toes", referring to the fact that this species has no webbing in between its toes. The coquÃÂ have special disks instead of webbing on their feet, differentiating them from many other types of frogs. These disks help the coquÃÂ climb and stick to trees and leaves.
CoquÃÂs live in tropical areas and have been discovered in different elevation levels. They can be found at up to 1200m in elevation, usually in humid mountain forests or in dry forests. According to the Invasive Species Compendium, the Eleutherodactylus coquÃÂ shares the nests of common native species of birds like the "bananaquit (Coereba flaveola portoricensis), the Puerto Rican bullfinch (Loxigilla portoricensis), and the Puerto Rican tody (Todus mexicanus)". CoquÃÂs tend to be in their natural habitats in the forests but it is also common for the species to appear in human territories such as houses, parks, and near bodies of water.
CoquÃÂs belong to the Eleutherodactylus genus which in Greek means "free toes". Eleutherodactylus contains over 200 species that naturally occur in the southern United States, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean. All coquÃÂs are classified within the E. auriculatus group, a species complex that includes numerous species from throughout the Caribbean. A fossil Eleutherodactylus bone is known from the Early Oligocene-aged San Sebastián Limestone of Puerto Rico, suggesting that coquis have been present on the island for more than 29 million years. They likely arrived to Puerto Rico earlier in the Oligocene, around 33.9 million years ago, alongside many other vertebrate taxa.
Seventeen described species of frogs named "coquÃÂ" inhabit Puerto Rico and neighboring islands. The following species are known:
Although some members such as E. antillensis, E. brittoni, E. coqui and E. cochranae are common and widespread, the majority of coquÃÂs have small ranges, and have become highly endangered due to habitat loss, invasive species, climate change, and chytrid fungus.
Although coquÃÂs can reproduce all year long, their breeding is at its peak during the wet season, which is around April to October. Female frogs tend to lay about 15 to 40 eggs roughly five times a year. CoquÃÂs differ from most other frog species because coquÃÂs lay their eggs in terrestrial plants, whereas other frog species usually lay their eggs in water. The males gather up the eggs and provide protection in a nest, guarding them. Because the eggs must remain moist, male coquÃÂs will periodically leave the nest to collect moisture to keep the eggs hydrated when it appears they are beginning to dry out.
The coquÃÂ frog gets its name from the mating call of the male, which sounds like coquÃÂ, or "co-kee". Male coquÃÂ frogs use their call to attract female frogs and establish their territory. When multiple male coquÃÂs are found in the same area, they challenge each other's domain by song. The coquÃÂ frog that loses usually flees and tends to relocate to another area or compete for territory elsewhere. Male coquÃÂs start singing around the time the sun sets and continue throughout the night, until dawn.
The coquÃÂs and their fellow members of the Eleutherodactylus genus have an unusual life cycle shared by only a few other frog genera (e.g. Myobatrachus). While most frogs begin their lives as tadpoles (complete with a small tail that aids the juvenile frog in swimming before they develop legs), the coquÃÂs are hatched as tiny frogs with short tails, thereby entirely skipping the free-living larval stage. This life cycle, in which the tadpole stage is completed within the egg itself, is referred to as direct development.
Once they reach their adult stage, most coquÃÂs do not live longer than a year, although the National Wildlife Federation states that some coquÃÂs have been found to be as old as six years.
The environmental degradation caused by Hurricane Hugo in 1989, Hurricane Georges in 1998, and the two-year drought from 2015 to 2017 have all had a massive impact on the El Yunque rain forest in Puerto Rico, including the resident coqui frogs. An increase in average temperature has already increased the incidence in coqui frogs of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a chytrid fungus that reduces the reproductive capability and increases mortality of the Coqui frogs.
The more recent hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017 also hit Puerto Rico. Irma did not directly strike Puerto Rico, but Maria impacted Puerto Rico directly two weeks later, and devastated the forest on a massive level. Specific conditions prevented some sites from massive destruction, but 53% of the Puerto Rican El Yunque rainforest was devastated.
By 2009, the USGS established that the species had been identified in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, Florida, and the Dominican Republic.
CoquÃÂs have become established on the Big Island of Hawaiûi, where they are considered an invasive species. The coquàpopulation density in Hawaii can reach 20,000 animals per acre, affecting . Eradication campaigns are underway on Hawaii and Maui.
The Eleutherodactylus coqui was introduced to Hawaii around the late 1980s. This species found its way to the Hawaiian Islands by hiding in plants that were being transported to the islands. Studies have shown that the species has increased nutrient cycling rates, and actually helped some native species which previously existed in low-nutrient conditions.
Eleutherodactylus coqui attains extremely high densities in Hawaiûi and can reproduce year-round, once every 1âÂÂ2 months, and become reproductive around 8âÂÂ9 months
The coquÃÂs have a very small number of predators (rats and some lizards); as a result, the coquÃÂ population has increased over time. Another factor in the population increase is that they can breed continuously throughout the year. As a result, the Eleutherodactylus coquÃÂ has had a negative impact on native species by increasing competition with native birds, and other frogs. The expansion of the Eleutherodactylus coquÃÂ has forced other creatures such as bats to seek alternatives, as they compete for food at higher elevations. Birds and bats were not greatly affected by the introduction of coquÃÂs to the island until the frogs started appearing on higher ground. The species is also feeding on native spiders and insects that are close to extinction.
CoquÃÂs have been officially listed as an invasive species of concern in Colombia. The species has also been found in California, mostly in plant nurseries, though had not been known to have established a stable population.
Overall, attempts to limit or control the coquÃÂ population where they are invasive have been unsuccessful. In Hawaii, the intentional transportation of frogs is a class C felony, and coquÃÂs are labeled as pests.
One action that appears to be effective in decreasing the coquÃÂ population in commercial areas is a hot shower treatment on nursery plants. The hot shower works as a dis-infestation treatment for not only the Eleutherodactylus coquÃÂ eggs but also for adult coquÃÂs.
Only a few chemical treatments are legal. Citric acid can be legally used in Hawaii, though the chemical must directly contact coquÃÂs, perhaps even multiple times. However, the citric acid may adversely impact plants and cause unseemly spots. Other substances that are used to control the species are hydrated lime and caffeine. Eradication techniques include hand-capture, and spraying with a 12% solution of citric acid, along with a certification program for nurseries to prevent them from acting as centers of contagion.
Researchers have found petroglyphic images of coquÃÂ, including in a cave on Puerto Rico's Mona Island, filled with 13th-century petroglyphs depicting TaÃÂno culture. With these images, archaeologists were able to understand certain aspects of their way of life, including customs, art, and beliefs. The repeated coquÃÂ symbol suggests the influence of the coquÃÂ on art, poetry, and decorative works such as pottery in Taino society.
In these carvings, the positioning of frog-like hands represented "femaleness". In addition, coquÃÂ frogs, with their rich vocals before a rain, were said to be associated with women's fertility and children.
In one legend about the origin of the coquÃÂ, a goddess fell in love with CoquÃÂ, the chief's son. She told him that she would come one evening, but she never came. Instead, the evil Juracán, the deity of chaos and disorder, arrived. The sky blackened as the winds quickened. The goddess tried to protect her lover, but Juracán grabbed him away and they never saw each other again. In order to cope with the loss of CoquÃÂ, she created a frog that will forever call out his name: "Co-kee! Co-kee!".
Another legend states that a god named Guahoyona abducted all women from the island, leaving the men to take care of the children, who out of hunger began to cry "toa toa", or "mother-mother". When the children could not be consoled by the men, they turned into frogs.
Puerto Rican boy-band Menudo have a song named "Coqui", which they sang in their movie Una Aventura Llamada Menudo, in a scene where coquis can be heard.
The sound of a coqui can be heard distinctly at the beginning and end of the songs "Acércate" and "ÃÂngel CaÃÂdo", by singer Ivy Queen.
In the first movement of The Mars Volta's song "Miranda That Ghost Just Isn't Holy Anymore", 4 minutes of coqui frogs can be heard singing (credited as "The Coqui of Puerto Rico" on the album sleeve).
A study published by the Proceedings of the Royal Society B states that long-term temperature rises from climate change have resulted in alterations to the coquÃÂ's calls: significant increases in pitch, and shortening of their duration. The increasing temperatures have also been shown to reduce their body size, while also reducing biomass population. This can lead to dire consequences because coquÃÂ frogs play an important role in the Puerto Rican ecosystem.
If temperature continues to increase, coquÃÂs as a whole are predicted to sound and look different in the next century. The survival of the coquÃÂs depends on the female coquÃÂ's ability to adapt to these changes. If their inner ears are not able to adapt, then they will not be able to pick up higher-pitched calls, leading to mating issues. In addition to coquÃÂ populations decreasing, having smaller coquÃÂs to eat or be eaten by other organisms may destabilize the whole food web of Puerto Rico's rainforest.