''Eleutherodactylus juanariveroi'', or the ''Puerto Rican wetland frog'' ( es, coquí llanero), is an endangered species of
coqui, a
frog species,
endemic to
Puerto Rico.
It was discovered in 2005 by Neftalí Rios, and was named after Puerto Rican herpetologist
Juan A. Rivero
Dr. Juan Arturo Rivero Quintero (March 5, 1923 in Santurce, Puerto Rico – March 3, 2014) was a Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican biologist who founded the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo at the University of Puerto Rico's Mayagüez Campus.
Education
Dr. Rivero ...
, in honor of his contributions to Puerto Rican
herpetology
Herpetology (from Greek ἑρπετόν ''herpetón'', meaning "reptile" or "creeping animal") is the branch of zoology concerned with the study of amphibians (including frogs, toads, salamanders, newts, and caecilians (gymnophiona)) and rept ...
.
Distribution
It is only found in the old Naval Base of
Sábana Seca in
Toa Baja,
Puerto Rico.
Description
It is characterized by a high-frequency, chip-like sound, a light-brown skin color, and a strip between the eyes. It is the smallest species of coqui.
Conservation
The Department of Natural Resources of Puerto Rico added this species to the
endangered species
An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inv ...
list, and designated its critical
habitat likewise. However, the protection was removed by the Puerto Rico Supreme Court on 12 June 2012. The species is listed as endangered under the
Endangered Species Act
The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA or "The Act"; 16 U.S.C. § 1531 et seq.) is the primary law in the United States for protecting imperiled species. Designed to protect critically imperiled species from extinction as a "consequence of ec ...
.
References
External links
*http://www.coquipr.com/coquies/coquillanero.php
{{Taxonbar, from=Q3014213
juanariveroi
Critically endangered fauna of North America
Endemic fauna of Puerto Rico
Amphibians of Puerto Rico
Frogs of North America
Amphibians described in 2007
Taxa named by Richard Thomas (herpetologist)
ESA endangered species