Eleutherodactylus gryllus
| Kingdom |
Phylum |
Class |
Order |
Family |
| ANIMALIA |
CHORDATA |
AMPHIBIA |
ANURA |
ELEUTHERODACTYLIDAE |
| Scientific Name: |
Eleutherodactylus gryllus |
| Species Authority: |
Schmidt, 1920 |
Common Name/s:
| English |
– |
Cricket Coqui, Green Coqui |
| Spanish |
– |
Coqui Grillo |
|
Assessment Information
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| Red List Category & Criteria: |
Endangered
B1ab(v)
ver 3.1
|
| Year Published: |
2008 |
| Assessor/s: |
Blair Hedges, Neftalí Rios-López |
| Reviewer/s: |
Ariadne Angulo and Simon Stuart |
| Contributor/s: |
|
Justification:
Listed as Endangered because its Extent of Occurrence is less than 5,000km2, its distribution is severely fragmented, and there is continuing decline in the number of mature individuals on Puerto Rico.
|
| History: |
|
Geographic Range
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Population
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| Population: |
One population in the elfin forest has been reported as declining. However, apparent declines may be a result of variation in the survey methodology, given that acoustic surveys were conducted at different time frames early and later on in the study (N. Rios-López, pers. comm. 2008).
|
| Population Trend: |
Decreasing
|
Habitat and Ecology
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| Habitat and Ecology: |
It occurs in forest and along forest edges or openings, retreating by day into bromeliads or under moss and rocks. It has not been recorded outside forest habitats. Eggs are laid in bromeliads, and it breeds by direct development.
|
| Systems: |
Terrestrial |
| Major Threat(s): |
In the past, extensive deforestation took place over much of Puerto Rico due to agricultural expansion and wood-cutting; current disturbances include tourism and infrastructure development for tourism and radio communication facilities. As a high-altitude species, it might also be susceptible to climate change and/or chytridiomycosis. Rats and mongooses have also been suggested as potential threats (as invasive predators), although literature on this subject is equivocal (Hedges, 1993, and Thurley and Bell, 1994, support the notion that these introduced species comprise threats to amphibian species, while Reagan and Waide, 1996, suggest that rats are lesser predators of Eleutherodactylus coqui), and there is currently no consensus regarding the impact that these species may or may not have on amphibian declines in Puerto Rico. Future research efforts directed at investigating the impact of these invasive species on amphibian populations may help to elucidate their relative contribution to amphibian declines.
|
Conservation Actions
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| Conservation Actions: |
It occurs in a few protected areas, which are well managed. The species requires careful population monitoring, particularly in light of the potential threats posed by climate change and/or chytridiomycosis. In addition, further research may help elucidate the relative impact of introduced species (rats and mongoooses) on local populations.
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