| Puerto Rican rock frog | |
|---|---|
| |
| Female Puerto Rican rock frog | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Anura |
| Family: | Eleutherodactylidae |
| Genus: | Eleutherodactylus |
| Subgenus: | Eleutherodactylus |
| Species: | E. cooki
|
| Binomial name | |
| Eleutherodactylus cooki Grant, 1932
| |
| |
| Known habitat area, east Puerto Rico | |
The Puerto Rican rock frog (Eleutherodactylus cooki), also known as the Puerto Rican cave-dwelling frog or rock coquí, and locally as coquí guajón, or guajón for brevity, is a threatened frog species from the coqui genus. This unique species of tropical frogs dwells primarily in crevices and grottos in the Cuchilla de Panduras mountain range in southeastern Puerto Rico.[2] The native name guajón is derived from its habitat, guajonales, which are caves formed by rock formations between huge stones.[2] Despite being the state animal and considered emblematic of the region, of the 17 species of coquí, three are believed to be extinct and the rest are rare and declining in numbers. The Puerto Rican rock frog is extremely restricted in geographical distribution. The frog is threatened due to deforestation, agricultural, rural, and industrial development, and the associated infrastructure.[2] It is sometimes called the "demon of Puerto Rico" (demonio de Puerto Rico in Spanish) because of its eerie call and phantom-like appearance.[3] The species was first described by American herpetologist, Chapman Grant in 1932.
- ^ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2021). "Eleutherodactylus cooki". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T7149A172755657. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T7149A172755657.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Recovery Plan for the Guajón or Puerto Rican Demon. FWS, 2004: http://ecos.fws.gov/docs/recovery_plan/040924b.pdf
- ^ Beacham's Guide to the Endangered Species of North America. Thomson Gale, 2005