The Whistling Coquí is a species of frog

Frog

Frogs are amphibians in the order Anura , formerly referred to as Salientia . Most frogs are characterized by a short body, webbed digits , protruding eyes and the absence of a tail...

 native to Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...

, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands

British Virgin Islands

The Virgin Islands, often called the British Virgin Islands , is a British overseas territory and overseas territory of the European Union, located in the Caribbean to the east of Puerto Rico. The islands make up part of the Virgin Islands archipelago, the remaining islands constituting the U.S...

 belonging to the Eleutherodactylus genus in the Leptodactylinae

Leptodactylinae

Leptodactylinae is a subfamily of leptodactylid frogs.-Genera:* Adenomera Steindachner, 1867.* Edalorhina Jiménez de la Espada, 1871.* Hydrolaetare Gallardo, 1963.* Leptodactylus Fitzinger, 1826.* Limnomedusa Fitzinger, 1843....

 family. This nocturnal insectivore

Insectivore

An insectivore is a type of carnivore with a diet that consists chiefly of insects and similar small creatures. An alternate term is entomophage, which also refers to the human practice of eating insects....

 is also referred to as the Coquí Pitito in Puerto Rico. Their distinctive song is a single, rising whistle, which is repeated and followed by three clicking sounds. See references for song website.

Physical description

The Whistling Coqui measures between 0.6 and 0.7 inches, however the females tend to be bigger and usually measure 0.9 inches. Their physical coloration is gray, tan, or gray-brown. Their dorsum

Dorsum (anatomy)

In anatomy, the dorsum is the upper side of animals that typically run, fly, or swim in a horizontal position, and the back side of animals that walk upright. In vertebrates the dorsum contains the backbone. The term dorsal refers to anatomical structures that are either situated toward or grow...

 has a unique pattern of fine lines that resemble two reverse parenthesis {)(}. Their venter

Venter

Venter is a surname, and may refer to:* Brendan Venter - Rugby union footballer* Christoffel Venter - South African military commander* Craig Venter - American biologist and businessman...

 is white gray or cream yellow. Their legs are brown with small toe pads and they have dark, fine lines on the midline of their snout. Their throat and thighs are distinctive for their speckled, small brown spots. See references for picture website.

Population and distribution

The Whistling Coqui is usually found sleeping in the refuge of tree bromeliads (where it also lays its eggs) and coconut husk piles during the day. Several inhabit the southwest flank of the Luquillo Mountains and Guanica

Guánica, Puerto Rico

Guánica is a municipality in southwestern Puerto Rico located on southern coast, bordering the Caribbean Sea, south of Sabana Grande, east of Lajas, and west of Yauco. It is part of the Yauco Metropolitan Statistical Area....

’s dry forest in Puerto Rico, as well as humid areas of Puerto Rico such as Utuado

Utuado, Puerto Rico

Utuado is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the central-western mountainous region of the island known as La Cordillera Central. It is located north of Adjuntas and Ponce; south of Hatillo and Arecibo; east of Lares; and west of Ciales and Jayuya. In land area it is the third-largest...

, Cayey

Cayey, Puerto Rico

Cayey is a mountain town in central Puerto Rico located on the Central Mountain range, north of Salinas and Guayama; south of Cidra and Caguas; east of Aibonito and Salinas; and west of San Lorenzo Cayey is spread over 21 wards and Cayey Pueblo...

, and the Caribbean National Forest

Caribbean National Forest

El Yunque National Forest, formerly known as the Luquillo National Forest, and the Caribbean National Forest, is a forest located in northeastern Puerto Rico. It is the only tropical rain forest in the United States...

. Overall they range from the Puerto Rican islands (except Mona and Monito) to St. John, St. Thomas, and the British Virgin Islands (except Anegada).

Reproduction

Males use their song as mating calls from about three feet from the ground in trees and are usually heard at before dusk and after dawn. Their reproduction is as most of the Leptodactylidae family, which skips the tadpole phase. Their eggs are laid in humid areas and the froglets emerge and continue their lives.

Habitat

The Whistling Coqui is found in semi dry, wooded areas such as the dry forest of Guánica and the humid areas of Utuado, Cayey, and Luquillo

Luquillo, Puerto Rico

Luquillo is a municipality of Puerto Rico located in the northeast coast, northwest of Fajardo; and east of Rio Grande. Luquillo is spread over 5 wards and Luquillo Pueblo...

. They find and use trees like bromeliad plants and leaf litter to hide from predators during the day while they sleep. Depending on their area, they are found as high as 3 feet from the ground in trees.