El Coqui
October 1st 2007 02:29
The Coqui is a very popular creature throughout the island because it harmonizes the evenings with its graceful melody. The people on the island love to listen to the Coqui sing at bedtime, and its melody is dearly missed by the Puerto Ricans that are away from home. The name “Coqui” comes from the song that the male of the species is often heard singing, what it seems to say is: “Ko-kee… Ko-kee…”. That’s why it is called “Coqui” in Spanish. The Coquies begin to sing at sunset, and sing all night long until dawn when they stop singing and head for their nest. In almost all the towns and countrysides of the island you can find that the species “Eleutherodactylus Coqui” has a slower chant, while the other specie “Eleutherodactylus portoricensis” sings faster with a higher tone and is found in the mountains. The unique chant of the Coqui serves two purposes. The first syllable “co” (ko) which reaches 1,160 hertz is for warning nearby males, a “go away” message, and the second syllable “qui” (kee) which reaches 2,090 hertz is used to invite the female to reproductive activity. Only males call during courtship, although both sexes vocalize aggressively against intruders that enter their territory. Males typically call during courtship from 1-2 meters above the ground while sitting on a leaf, and female Coquies travel long distances to answer the male’s calling. The experience of the Coqui songs is quite unique and found nowhere else in the planet. Although some Coquies have been successfully exported to other countries, they can never sing once removed from the Island Puerto Rico.
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Comment by Ash
Australian Traveller
Flashes of memories
gee that`s really interesting information - how bizarre - like they are homesick or something.
Cute little fella
Ash
Comment by katyzzz
Photography Tips
Health Focus
Poetry Lighthouse
MS Paint Art
They sound very special.
katyzzz
Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
That is amazing! Do they stop singing altogether, or just change their tune?
I'm sure I have an Australian cousin to this fellow in my pond and he really is the Elvis of my night Garden. *chuckle*
Lilla ...
Comment by Madeline Schwartz
Abilities for Disabilities
Memoirs of a Black Cat
Latiin America Today
Disabilities To Abilities
Some people tried to export them to places like Florida which is a tropical place as Puerto Rico; nobody knows why, they don't sing.
It's so beatiful when I call my mother at night to heard the beautiful song of our coquies... makes me feel at home.
Thanks,
Madeline
PS
It's so nice to see your comments, katyzzz.
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Anonymous