Eleutherodactylus facts for kids
Eleutherodactylus is a group, or genus, of frogs. These frogs belong to the Eleutherodactylidae family. There are about 185 different species of Eleutherodactylus frogs. Many of them are often called "rain frogs" or "robber frogs."
They get these names because of their unique calls. Their calls are often sharp, high-pitched, and sound a lot like insects. These sounds can be heard especially after it rains.
Meet the Coquí Frog
The common coquí (Eleutherodactylus coqui) is one of the most famous species in this group. It is a very important national symbol of Puerto Rico. People in Puerto Rico love the sound of the coquí.
However, the coquí has also become an invasive species in the US state of Hawaii. An invasive species is an animal or plant that spreads to a new place and harms the local environment.
Tiny Frogs
Some Eleutherodactylus species are among the smallest frogs known in the world. For example, E. limbatus and E. iberia are incredibly tiny. They measure only about 8½ millimeters long. That's less than half an inch!
