Which frog genus includes the common coqui of Puerto Rico?

The common coqui of Puerto Rico belongs to the frog genus Eleutherodactylus.

Its scientific name is Eleutherodactylus coqui, and the species is one of several Puerto Rican frogs called coquís. The genus name means “free toes,” referring to the lack of toe webbing characteristic of these small terrestrial frogs. Coquís are famous for the repeated “co-kee” call produced mainly by males.

Unlike many frogs, Eleutherodactylus coqui does not normally pass through a free-swimming tadpole stage. It lays eggs in moist places, and miniature froglets emerge from the eggs. This direct development helps explain why the species can reproduce away from ponds and streams.

A common mix-up is confusing the genus with the species: Eleutherodactylus is the broader genus, while coqui is the species name in Eleutherodactylus coqui. The genus contains more than 200 species across the Caribbean and the Americas.