Coqui (Eleutherodactylus coqui)

Cute Frog of the Week: February 7, 2011

The coquí (Eleutherodactylus coqui), or “little frog,” as it is called in its native Puerto Rico, is a small frog that ranges in size between 15mm and 80mm and is considerably diverse in appearance. They can be green, brown or yellowish and sometimes have touches of different colors—and even stripes! The coquí is one of those frogs that undergoes metamorphosis inside its egg, unlike many other frog species (and most amphibians for that matter) that change from tadpoles into adult frogs. This means that it hatches from its egg as a little baby frog.

Ask a Puerto Rican abroad what they miss about home, and many will say the sound of coquis! This species has accidentally been introduced to  Hawaii where it thrives, but most Hawaiians don’t have the same appreciation of this frog and go to great lengths to try and get rid of them! And if you can’t remember the name of this little frog, just ask it. Its call sounds like it is saying “coqui.”

Wiggle your toes!

Coquíes have disks on the tips of their toes to help them adhere to surfaces, like moistened leaves. Because they don’t require open water for their life cycle, they don’t have webbing between their toes, like more aquatic frogs, which means that this particular frog is probably not adapted to swim. They do like to be different, don’t they!? These lucky guys are listed as “least concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, though they have suffered some declines in the highlands.

Photo credit: Joe Milmoe, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Every week the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project posts a new photo of a cute frog from anywhere in the world with an interesting, fun and unique story to tell. Be sure to check back every Monday for the latest addition.

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