The Coquis
El Yunque's best known and most vocal inhabitant
s are its millions of tiny tree frogs known as
coquis (pronounced “co-kee”). The coquis name applies to
all 13 species of El Yunque's tree frogs
although only 2 of them ( the forest and common coqui
) actually produce the famous "co-kee" sound .
Eleven of the 13 species are found only in Puerto
Rico . Each of the other species has its
own distinctive call ; some sound like "bob white"
quail. With the variety of voices, you can expect a diverse
sunset chorus.
The coquis sing loudest when it rains .
Despite how often that occurs, the frogs seem
deliriously happy with each new sprinkle. If you want to
hear the coquis sing, expect to get wet ;
you probably will, anyway, since this is a rain forest .
But if it doesn't rain during your visit, hang
around until sunset , when the coquis always sing
.
The coquis of El Yunque are only about an inch
in length and vary in color from gray to brown
to green to yellow. Forest Service biologists say the tree
frogs call to defend their different territories used for
shelter, feeding and mating.
As might be expected, the loudest calls are made by males
defending their mating territory. Some scientists say that
by calling out , the male coqui is trying to discourage
other nearby males from attracting females.
Coquis are fascinating creatures . All species have pads
or disks on their toe tips that enable them to
cling to slippery surfaces. Arboreal or tree-living species
have larger toe pads than those living on the ground.
Most coquis found in the lowlands are arboreal , where in
the high forest they are mostly ground-dwellers
. Although the lowland species range high up into
the mountains , the mountain residents rarely are
found in the lowlands. Apparently, the mountain coquis know all
about the heat lower down .
Sometimes, it's said that frogs literally fall out of the sky
in the rain forest, and it's partially true . When the humidity
is high, the coqui will climb as high as 100 feet in search
of food, and predators like the tarantula are only too happy to greet
them .
The frogs that make it up high often jump off and drop to the forest
floor rather than risk going back down the tree
where predators are waiting. The frogs are so light they
almost float to the ground. And that's how it rains
frogs in the rain forest.
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