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Locust coqui

The locust coqui or coquí martillito (Eleutherodactylus locustus) is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to Puerto Rico. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. E. locustus has suffered a population decline of more than 80% due to introduced predators and amphibian chytrid disease. Scientists believe amphibian chytrid disease may be exacerbated by climate change - warmer temperatures in dry, moist habitats, causing stress that may lead to greater susceptibility to the disease.

Locust coqui
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Eleutherodactylidae
Genus: Eleutherodactylus
Species:
E. locustus
Binomial name
Eleutherodactylus locustus
Schmidt, 1920
Synonyms
  • Eleutherodactylus cramptoni (Schmidt, 1920)

Description edit

The locust coqui is a small species, approximately 0.8 inches (20 mm) in snout-vent length. It is brown overall, minutely variegated, with lighter brown or cream colors. A pair of externally concave lines is almost always visible on the back, but a variable-width line along the vertebrae may or may not be present. The eyes are large and protuberant, and the angles at the side of the snout are rounded and indistinct.

Habits edit

Like other Eleutherodactylidae, E. locustus does not have interdigital membranes, so is not well adapted to swimming; instead, it has pads on its toes that allow it to adhere to leaves and branches. The species uses internal fertilization – the fertilized eggs undergo direct development. The tadpole stage occurs entirely within the egg, rather than as a free-living tadpole. Thus, a tiny but fully functional froglet hatches directly from the egg. E. locustus females deposit four to six clutches of about 28 eggs each per year, mostly during the rainy season, with a development period of 26 days. Males guard the eggs to keep them moist, and remain in the nest for a few days after they emerge. The call of E. locustus is a short whistle, followed by a series of clicks.

Habitat edit

The locust coqui is restricted to the interior uplands of eastern Puerto Rico at elevations of 895 to 3,444 ft (273 to 1,050 m) above sea level. A terrestrial species, it occurs in mesic broadleaf, subtropical, moist lowland or subtropical moist montane forests.

Because an unexplained major decline in the abundance of this species has occurred in the last two decades, even in relatively undisturbed forests (such as El Yunque), this animal is rarely seen, but an easily accessible forest location sustains an E. locustus population. On the fern-covered slope above the Big Tree Nature Trail's roadside parking lot, the calls of locust coquis can be heard beginning in the late afternoon, just before sunset.[2]

External audio
Frog Call
  Click here to listen to the locust coqui vocals

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2021). "Eleutherodactylus locustus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T56725A172795683. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T56725A172795683.en. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
  2. ^ 2008 Wildlife Facts – Locust Coqui. USDA.gov   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.

locust, coqui, locust, coqui, coquí, martillito, eleutherodactylus, locustus, species, frog, family, eleutherodactylidae, endemic, puerto, rico, natural, habitats, subtropical, tropical, moist, lowland, forests, subtropical, tropical, moist, montane, forests, . The locust coqui or coqui martillito Eleutherodactylus locustus is a species of frog in the family Eleutherodactylidae endemic to Puerto Rico Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and subtropical or tropical moist montane forests E locustus has suffered a population decline of more than 80 due to introduced predators and amphibian chytrid disease Scientists believe amphibian chytrid disease may be exacerbated by climate change warmer temperatures in dry moist habitats causing stress that may lead to greater susceptibility to the disease Locust coqui Conservation status Endangered IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Amphibia Order Anura Family Eleutherodactylidae Genus Eleutherodactylus Species E locustus Binomial name Eleutherodactylus locustusSchmidt 1920 Synonyms Eleutherodactylus cramptoni Schmidt 1920 Contents 1 Description 2 Habits 3 Habitat 4 See also 5 ReferencesDescription editThe locust coqui is a small species approximately 0 8 inches 20 mm in snout vent length It is brown overall minutely variegated with lighter brown or cream colors A pair of externally concave lines is almost always visible on the back but a variable width line along the vertebrae may or may not be present The eyes are large and protuberant and the angles at the side of the snout are rounded and indistinct Habits editLike other Eleutherodactylidae E locustus does not have interdigital membranes so is not well adapted to swimming instead it has pads on its toes that allow it to adhere to leaves and branches The species uses internal fertilization the fertilized eggs undergo direct development The tadpole stage occurs entirely within the egg rather than as a free living tadpole Thus a tiny but fully functional froglet hatches directly from the egg E locustus females deposit four to six clutches of about 28 eggs each per year mostly during the rainy season with a development period of 26 days Males guard the eggs to keep them moist and remain in the nest for a few days after they emerge The call of E locustus is a short whistle followed by a series of clicks Habitat editThe locust coqui is restricted to the interior uplands of eastern Puerto Rico at elevations of 895 to 3 444 ft 273 to 1 050 m above sea level A terrestrial species it occurs in mesic broadleaf subtropical moist lowland or subtropical moist montane forests Because an unexplained major decline in the abundance of this species has occurred in the last two decades even in relatively undisturbed forests such as El Yunque this animal is rarely seen but an easily accessible forest location sustains an E locustus population On the fern covered slope above the Big Tree Nature Trail s roadside parking lot the calls of locust coquis can be heard beginning in the late afternoon just before sunset 2 External audioFrog Call nbsp Click here to listen to the locust coqui vocalsSee also edit nbsp Puerto Rico portal nbsp Biology portal nbsp Amphibians and Reptiles portal Fauna of Puerto Rico List of endemic fauna of Puerto Rico List of amphibians and reptiles of Puerto RicoReferences edit IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group 2021 Eleutherodactylus locustus IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T56725A172795683 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 1 RLTS T56725A172795683 en Retrieved 17 November 2021 2008 Wildlife Facts Locust Coqui USDA gov nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Locust coqui amp oldid 1220666489, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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