Locust coqui facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Locust coqui |
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The locust coqui (Eleutherodactylus locustus) is a small frog that lives only in Puerto Rico. It belongs to a group of frogs called Eleutherodactylidae. These frogs like to live in warm, wet forests, especially in the mountains.
Sadly, the locust coqui is in big trouble. Its population has dropped by more than 80% in recent years. This is mainly because of animals that were brought to Puerto Rico and hunt the coqui. Also, a serious frog disease called amphibian chytrid disease is harming them. Scientists think that climate change might make this disease worse. Warmer weather can stress the frogs, making them sicker.
Meet the Locust Coqui
The locust coqui is a tiny frog. It is only about 0.8 inches (20 mm) long, which is smaller than your thumb! Its skin is mostly brown. It has small spots and patches of lighter brown or cream colors.
You can often see two curved lines on its back. Sometimes, there is also a line down the middle of its back. The coqui has big eyes that stick out a bit. Its snout is rounded, not pointy.
Life Cycle and Habits
Like other frogs in its family, the locust coqui does not have webbed feet. This means it is not a good swimmer. Instead, it has special pads on its toes. These pads help it stick to leaves and branches.
Locust coquis have a unique way of reproducing. The female frog lays eggs that are fertilized inside her body. The most interesting part is that there is no tadpole stage that swims in water. Instead, the tadpole grows completely inside the egg. A tiny, fully formed froglet hatches directly from the egg!
Female locust coquis lay about 28 eggs at a time. They can lay four to six groups of eggs each year. This usually happens during the rainy season. The eggs take about 26 days to hatch. The male frog stays with the eggs to keep them moist. He even stays near the nest for a few days after the froglets hatch.
The sound of the locust coqui is special. It makes a short whistle sound. After the whistle, it makes a series of clicking noises.
Where the Locust Coqui Lives
The locust coqui only lives in the higher parts of eastern Puerto Rico. You can find them at elevations from 895 to 3,444 feet (273 to 1,050 meters) above sea level. They live on the ground in moist forests. These include wet broadleaf forests and mountain forests.
It has become very hard to find these frogs. Even in protected places like El Yunque National Forest, their numbers have dropped a lot. However, there is one place where you might still hear them. On a fern-covered hill above the Big Tree Nature Trail's parking lot, you can hear their calls. They start calling in the late afternoon, just before the sun sets.
See also
In Spanish: Coquí martillito para niños
