Hear the Coqui song!

Look how small they are! 

The Puerto Rican Coquí is a very small tree frog.  Some of these tiny frogs appear to be green, brown and even yellow in color; however, they are actually translucent.  True to their name’s sake, Coquí frogs have a melodious sound that closely enunciate their commonly known name;   “Co-qui”.  

Come dusk, expect to be serenaded to a repetitive sound similar to "co-quí, co-quí, co-quí."  Closer to sun up, as if not to bore us, their sound changes to a longer version of  "co-quí-quí-quí, co-quí-quí-quí, co-quí-quí-quí".  Either Co-qui, or Co-qui-qui-qui this nightly high pitched sound can be heard from a distance.

Triggered by dusk and continuing until sun up their melodious sounds have serenaded islanders and travelers alike for ages.   Coquíes are highly revered in Puerto Rico and are an important symbol of the local culture.  Many song writers, poets, painters and sculptors have paid homage to the tiny tree frogs within their artistic renditions.

Out of 16 species of Coquí frogs living in the island only the “Coquí Común” and the "Coquí de la Montaña (aka, Coquí Puertorriqueño)" can actually make the distinctive sound. Although these tiny frogs have relatives throughout Latin America, and the Caribbean the singing Coquíes can only be found in Puerto Rico.

Some Coquíes are terrestrial and some are arboreal.  Capable of leaving both on water or land these tiny amphibians are characterized by their no webbed toes and are scientifically called: Eleu-thero-dactylus.  All 16 different species in Puerto Rico have padded discs at the end of their toes, a feature which helps them climb trees, and further characterize their species.
 
Contrary to other frogs, Coquíes do not go through a tadpole stage.  Instead, they break out of their egg a complete tiny replica of their parents.  In fact, the Coquí Dorado, was the only species in the world able to produce live young.  

Although the species is famous for their unique sound, is important to know that only the male frog can sing out the characteristic song.  It is also the male frog that watches over the eggs for the 28 days gestation period.   And once hatched, it is the male that watches the young frogs for five additional days until the young leave the nest.

Prone to darkness a Coquí frog is less likely to decrease its singing if it senses bright lights in its natural habitat.   The rainforest flora surrounding Casa Picaflores enables the perfect habitat for these melodious frogs to have at it.    Being arboreal these tiny creatures spend the majority of the time after dusk climbing to the top of trees in search of insects.   Once dawn arrives and their singing melody changes to the longer version only then would they return and remain in their nest until dusk arrives and the cycle repeats itself.
 
As with other species and animals around the globe, the Puerto Rican Coquíes are in danger of extinction.   Sadly, the species known as “Coquí Dorado” and “Coquí Palmeado” are now extinct.  Other species such as “Coquí Caoba” and “Coquí Eneida” continue to be in grave danger.  The extinction concerns can be primarily attributed to land deforestation.   

Deforestation destroys the Coquí habitat, nests and food sources.  Truly important to its ecological-friendly operation, Casa Picaflores takes the necessary steps to not only protect the local habitat, but as much as possible enhance it, by assuring the best state of the flora surrounding the facility.   As the current shepherds of the land, Casa Picaflores takes special care to maintain, nourish and support the land and the habitat by only using practices deem echo-friendly and chemical free. 

                       *

The melodious Coqui are tiny frogs, however, a huge reason to come visit Casa Picaflores!!!!

               Make your reservations today!!!!!
                We can't wait to see you!!!