Coquí
A tiny frog endemic to the Caribbean that sings at nightfall and is named after its own two note call, co-kee. Puerto Rico holds a family of coquí species and most of them live nowhere else on earth. Only the males call, using it to hold territory and attract females.
Example
The chorus you hear from the balcony after sunset is neither cricket nor bird. It is hundreds of male coquíes at once.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I actually see one?
It is hard. They are barely an inch long and call from under leaves. You will hear them in any green area at dusk.
Why is it a symbol of Puerto Rico?
Because it is endemic, audible everywhere and woven into local identity. It appears on shirts, keychains and in the saying that a boricua knows home by the coquí.
