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The population size of E. coqui outnumbers all other frogs within the forests of Puerto Rico. The availability of shelter and nesting, when limited, is a factor in the population size of E. coqui. Worldwide, populations have increased as E. coqui have been introduced and established in Florida and the Hawaiian Islands through the importation of greenhouse plants from Puerto Rico.
Communication is primarily acoustic in E. coqui. Males emit a two part call, the first part, identified as "co", is a defensive and threatening call towards males, the second part or "qui" is the call that attracts females. If a male frog is in the surrounding vicinity the caller ceases the female attracting part of the call, leaving only the threatening "co" part of the call. Females are known to make a low rasping call in defense of feeding territories. Puerto Rican coquis perceive their environment with visual, chemical, tactile, and auditory senses.
Communication Channels: acoustic
Perception Channels: visual ; tactile ; acoustic ; chemical
The E. coqui population is currently identified as near threatened based on possible decline in population size which has been witnessed on the island of Puerto Rico in recent years. This is particularly true in the case of populations at higher altitudes. Threats to the population include pollution as well as pathogens such as chytridiomycosis (amphibian fungal disease). Conservation methods are in place for habitat protection but further action needs to be taken in the area of disease control and more complete population monitoring.
US Federal List: no special status
CITES: no special status
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: least concern
Development proceeds from larval form to froglet within the egg. The free-living tadpole stage is bypassed in development, allowing eggs to be laid in the absence of standing water. Clutches of eggs hatch within 8 weeks and reproductive maturity is reached within approximately one year. The genus Eleutherodactylus developes an egg tooth to free the young froglet from the egg.
Development - Life Cycle: metamorphosis
Importation of exotic plant species from Puerto Rico resulted in the introduction of E. coqui to the mainland U.S. as well as Maui and Hawaii Islands. On the Hawaiian Islands, which contain no native frogs, people complain about the disturbance of the “ko-kee” call produced by males at night. There is concern that this disturbance may negatively affect the tourist and real estate industries. The introduction of this exotic species also negatively affects the native species present on the islands, with the potential to severely upset the native population of arthropods as well as native insectivorous bird populations. These frogs also provide a larger prey base for predators of native birds such as rats and mongoose which causes increased pressure on the bird population. Puerto Rican coquis have been shown to affect the nutrient cycling in leaf litter negatively.
Negative Impacts: household pest
Because E. coqui are commonly found living in human dominated landscapes, such as in homes and parks, they may function as a live-in pest control agent, removing unwanted insects from human homes.
Positive Impacts: controls pest population
Eleutherodactylus coqui is important to the health of the forest ecosystem. Large invertebrate predators, such as spiders, rely heavily on E. coqui for prey. Birds and snakes also rely on them for consumption. E. coqui functions as a secondary predator, preying on ants and crickets, as well as a tertiary consumer, eating spiders and centipedes.
Puerto Rican coquis feed primarily on arthropods. Diet varies with size and age but not gender. Smaller, juvenile frogs eat smaller prey, such as ants. Larger frogs have a more diverse diet, including larger organisms such as spiders, moths, crickets, snails and even small frogs. It seems that more than half of the adult coqui’s diet is made up of roaches and crickets and the remaining half is made up of primarily ants, due to their abundance in the forest. Their mode of predation is the energy conserving ambush method. E. coqui individuals will sit on leaves, not moving at all, until the prey is very close, whereupon they strike. They often move less than 5 cm to reach prey in a strike. E. coqui often remain at profitable foraging sites throughout the night.
Animal Foods: amphibians; insects; terrestrial non-insect arthropods; mollusks
Primary Diet: carnivore (Insectivore )
Puerto Rican coquis, Eleutherodactylus coqui, are found naturally in Puerto Rico up to elevations of 1,200m. They have been introduced to southern Florida, Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Biogeographic Regions: nearctic (Introduced ); neotropical (Native ); oceanic islands (Introduced )
Puerto Rican coquis occur in abundance throughout Puerto Rico in terrestrial areas except for the driest regions of the island. They are often found in cohabitation with humans, such as in homes and parks, because of their unrestricted habitat use. Commonly used natural habitats include humid mountain forest at elevations less than 1,200 m and dry forest. Within forests, E. coqui are found at all elevations from the understory to the canopy.
Range elevation: 0 to 1,200 m.
Habitat Regions: tropical ; terrestrial
Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; rainforest
Other Habitat Features: urban ; suburban ; agricultural
Maximum lifespan of E. coqui is not known but individuals have been found in the wild up to 6 years old. An estimated 94% of adult individuals do not live past their first year.
Range lifespan
Status: wild: 6 (high) years.
Typical lifespan
Status: wild: 1 (high) years.
Average lifespan
Status: wild: < 1 years.
Eleutherodactylus coqui is described as a small tree frog, however it is the largest frog species in the forests of Puerto Rico, with adults from 24 to 55 mm. Females are larger than males and location also greatly affects size: the higher the elevation, the larger the individual. Both males and females are light brown in color with grey or tan markings on the dorsum and a light gray underside. The toes are individual and non-webbed with large disks on the underside of each toe. These pads contain a sticky surface which allows them to ascend trees and leaves.
Range mass: 54 to 117 g.
Range length: 24 to 55 mm.
Other Physical Features: ectothermic ; heterothermic ; bilateral symmetry
Sexual Dimorphism: female larger
Predators of E. coqui include native birds, snakes (Puerto Rican racer, Alsophis portoricensis) as well as large arthropods such as spiders (giant crab spider, Olios sp.). Giant crab spiders will attack and kill E. coqui by jump attack and lethal injection. When threatened, E. coqui juveniles take refuge in the leaf litter and undergrowth on the forest floor. Adult coquis are camouflaged in the foliage of the forest by their markings and sedentary habits.
Known Predators:
Anti-predator Adaptations: cryptic
Males emit a two part call consisting of a "co" which is used when threatened by another male and the "qui" which attracts females . Once a nesting territory is established, males and females fight off intruders by chasing, jump attacks, and sometimes biting. This territorial behavior is exhibited by males as well as females.
Eleutherodactylus coqui reproduce year round, but reproduction rates increase during the rainy season. Fertilization occurs internally in the female and approximately 3-45 eggs are laid in the nest. Clutches are laid approximately every 8 weeks. E. coqui embryos do not emerge as tadpoles, but develop directly into froglets and emerge approximately 17 to 26 days after the eggs are laid. The male remains to guard the nest for many days after froglets hatch. The absence of the tadpole stage allows nesting to occur in dry sites devoid of standing water. Nesting sites occur in protected cavities such as tree holes and the petioles of rolled palms. Abandoned bird nests are also utilized by E. coqui for nesting sites. The bananaquit (Coereba flaveola portoricensis), Puerto Rican bullfinch (Loxigilla portoricensis) and Puerto Rican tody (Todus mexicanus) are all birds which share nests with E. coqui.
Breeding interval: Clutches are laid approximately every 8 weeks throughout the year.
Breeding season: Puerto Rican coquis breed throughout the year and more frequently during the rainy season.
Range number of offspring: 3 to 45.
Average number of offspring: 27.
Range time to hatching: 17 to 26 days.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (female): 1 years.
Average age at sexual or reproductive maturity (male): 1 years.
Key Reproductive Features: iteroparous ; year-round breeding ; gonochoric/gonochoristic/dioecious (sexes separate); sexual ; fertilization (Internal ); oviparous
Males are primary caretakers of eggs. They offer protection from predators as well as ensure that eggs are moist through contact with their skin. Males will leave the nest during extremely dry periods in order to collect moisture for the egg clutch.
Parental Investment: pre-fertilization (Provisioning, Protecting: Female); pre-hatching/birth (Protecting: Male)
