- Eleutherodactylus cooki
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Eleutherodactylus cooki 
Female Guajon Coqui. Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Amphibia Order: Anura Family: Leptodactylidae Subfamily: Eleutherodactylinae Genus: Eleutherodactylus Subgenus: Eleutherodactylus[1] Species: E. cooki Binomial name Eleutherodactylus cooki
Grant, 1932
Known habitat area, east Puerto Rico Eleutherodactylus cooki, also known as the Puerto Rican Rock Frog, Puerto Rican Cave Dwelling Frog, Rock Coqui, and Guajon Coqui, and known locally as Coquí Guajón, or guajón for brevity, is a threatened frog species from the coqui genus. It is a unique species of tropical frog that dwells primarily in crevices and grottos in the Cuchilla de Panduras mountain range in southeastern Puerto Rico.[2] The native name guajón is derived from its habitat, guajonales, which are caves formed by rock formations between huge stones.[2] Despite being the state animal and considered emblematic of the region, of the 17 species of coquí, three are believed to be extinct and the rest are rare and declining in numbers. The guajón is extremely restricted in geographical distribution. The frog is threatened due to deforestation, agricultural, rural, and industrial development, and the associated infrastructure.[2] The guajón is sometimes called the “demon of Puerto Rico" (demonio de Puerto Rico in Spanish) because of its eerie call and phantom-like appearance.[3] The species was first described by American herpetologist, Chapman Grant in 1932.
Contents
Description
External audio
Verbal Call of the guajón Coqui can be heard here. Female guajóns are slightly larger than males, reaching a mean size of 2.01 inches (51 mm) in length whereas the males reach about 1.71 inches.[2] Guajóns are solid brown with whitish under parts and large, white-rimmed eyes, giving them a phantom-like appearance.[2] Breeding males and some females may have a yellow throat and abdomen.[2] Therefore it is the only Eleutherodactylus species which exhibits sexual dimorphism in color and size. The species is characterized by large truncate discs under the frogs’ feet and a peculiar, melodious, low voice completely different from any other coquí species in Puerto Rico.[2]
Taxonomy
The guajón (Eleutherodactylus cooki) is a petricolous (i.e., inhabiting rocks) frog species endemic to the southeastern part of Puerto Rico. This species is one of sixteen species of the genus Eleutherodactylus, commonly known as “coquíes” that inhabit the island.[2] The phylogenetics relations of frogs were established from the West Indies, utilizing morphological characteristics belonging to the genera Eleutherodactylus. Three groups or classes were recognized for the West Indies: Eleutherodactylus inoptatus, Eleutherodactylus ricordii, and Eleutherodactylus unistrigatus.[4] This species is a member of the West Indies subset of the Eleutherodactylus unistrigatus group.[4] The guajón is the second largest species of Eleutherodactylus in Puerto Rico.[2]
Distribution and habitat
The guajón is restricted to the Cuchilla de Panduras mountain range (Maunabo, San Lorenzo, and Yabucoa), and in the municipalities of Patillas, Humacao, and Las Piedras in Puerto Rico.[2] The guajón occurs at low and intermediate elevations from 18 to 1,183 feet (361 m) above sea level (36-360.7 meters above sea level) where they inhabit caves formed by large boulders of granite rock known as “guajonales” or streams with patches of rocks without cave systems.[2] It is believed that it is limited in distribution by the rock formations where it occurs.
Population Trends
The hidden and complex habitats where the guajón occurs makes it difficult to study and therefore, little detailed information is known about its population’s status and distribution or the health of known populations.[2] The species is extremely limited in geographic distribution and habitat requirements. Populations of species with a small range, or restricted to a specific habitat, are most susceptible to loss or depletions because of localized human activities that change their habitats.[2] The habitat of this species is naturally fragmented and the majority of the known populations are on private land where increased levels of land development are occurring.[2] The guajón is threatened by deforestation, construction and industrial development, runoff from the use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture, the use of caves as garbage dumps, and fire. It is a habitat specialist, meaning that it is adapted to particular environmental conditions, and abrupt changes in these conditions could result in population declines.[2]
Protection Status
The guajón was listed as threatened on June 11, 1997 pursuant to the Endangered Species Act of 1973, due to its restricted distribution, specialized habitat utilization, and threats to their habitat. At the time, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service determined designation of critical habitat not prudent. In 2003 the Center for Biological Diversity filed a lawsuit compelling the Service to designate critical habitat and prepare a recovery plan for the species. The Center secured a settlement agreement with the Service and the Service published a final recovery plan for the species in 2004 and designated 260 acres (1.1 km2) in Puerto Rico as critical habitat in 2007. The guajón is also designated as vulnerable by the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, and is afforded protection by Commonwealth laws.[2]
See also
- List of amphibians and reptiles of Puerto Rico
- Fauna of Puerto Rico
- List of endemic fauna of Puerto Rico
References
- ^ Heinicke, M.P., W.E. Duellman & S.B. Hedges (2007). "Major Caribbean and Central American frog faunas originated by ancient oceanic dispersal". Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. 104 (24): 10092 Data Supplement. doi:10.1073/pnas.0611051104. PMC 1891260. PMID 17548823. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?tool=pmcentrez&artid=1891260.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Recovery Plan for the Guajón or Puerto Rican Demon. FWS, 2004: http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/040924b.pdf
- ^ Beacham's Guide to the Endangered Species of North America. Thomson Gale, 2005
- ^ a b Phylogenetic relationships of the West Indian frogs of the genus Eleutherodactylus: a morphological analysis. Joglar R.L., 1989
External links
External images
Image Gallery of Eleutherodactylus cooki can be found here. - Neftali Rios-López (2008). Eleutherodactylus cooki. In: IUCN 2008. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 25 February 2009.
- Fish and Wildlife Service - Threatened Status for the Guajon
- Federal Lawsuit Filed to Protect Rare Puerto Rico Coqui Frog
- Fish and Wildlife Service (2004) - Recovery Plan for the Guajón or Puerto Rican Demon
Categories:- IUCN Red List vulnerable species
- Fauna of Puerto Rico
- Eleutherodactylus
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