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The coqui frog, Eleutherodactylus
coqui Thomas (Anura: Leptodactylidae), was accidentally
introduced into Hawai'i from Puerto Rico in about 1988. Aside
from being a major noise nuisance, the frogs pose a threat to
Hawai'i’s island ecosystem. Coqui frogs have a voracious
appetite that puts Hawai'i’s unique insects and spiders
at risk. They can also compete with endemic birds and other
native fauna that rely on insects for food. The frogs are quite
adaptable to the different ecological zones and elevations in
the state and have been found from sea level to 4,000 feet elevation
(at sites in Volcano on Hawai'i). Scientists are also concerned
that an established coqui frog population may serve as a readily
available food source if (or when) brown tree snakes are accidentally
introduced in Hawai'i.
Coqui populations have exploded in the last 15 years from presumably
a single infestation to over 200 on the Big Island alone. They
are also present on Maui (40 or more infestations), O`ahu (5
sites) and most recently on Kaua`i (1 site, subject of an eradication
effort with citric acid in June 2003). Puerto Rico averages
40 frogs (reproductively mature adults, not including juveniles)
per 20 x 20 m plot compared to > 200 in Big Island plots,
primarily because of the lack of predators (owls, snakes, tarantulas,
scorpions) in Hawai'i. |
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Kaua`i: Lawai Coqui Site Population Density (map credit: Kaua`i Invasive Species Committee (KISC) 2007) |
Coqui Frog Populations on Maui (map credit: Maui Invasive Species Committee (MISC) 2007) |
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