The dwarf coqui or elfin coqui (''Eleutherodactylus unicolor'', in Spanish ''coquí duende'') is a species of
frog
A frog is any member of a diverse and largely Carnivore, carnivorous group of short-bodied, tailless amphibians composing the order (biology), order Anura (ανοὐρά, literally ''without tail'' in Ancient Greek). The oldest fossil "proto-f ...
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and Unincorporated ...
.
It is placed in the subgenus ''Eleutherodactylus''.
Description
The dwarf coqui is a small frog with a grayish-brown back, a black-mask like face, and a series of light dots that follow through to the posterior of the frog.
[Mowbray, Alan]
“Wildlife Facts – October 2006 – Dwarf Coqui.”
US Forest Service. October. 2006. Web. 2 March. 2010. The females have a light line across the eyelids and usually have “white dots along the face, flanks, forelimbs, and thighs.”
The ''Eleutherodactylus'' species do not have webbed feet. These frogs, especially the dwarf coqui, have individual, finger-like feet, with round, disc-like toes.
''E. coqui'' is often referred to as the “coqui,” which originates from its distinctive call.
The “coqui” frogs are known for the unusual sounds they make. “The call of the dwarf coqui has been compared to the sound of a fingernail being dragged across the teeth of a comb or the winding of a watch.”
See also
*
Fauna of Puerto Rico
*
List of endemic fauna of Puerto Rico
*
List of amphibians and reptiles of Puerto Rico
Sources
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2276580
Eleutherodactylus
Endemic fauna of Puerto Rico
Amphibians of Puerto Rico
Amphibians described in 1904
Taxonomy articles created by Polbot