If you’ve ever spent an evening in Puerto Rico, you’ve probably heard the loud, cheerful “ko-KEE!” call that gives the Common Coqui its name. But did you know it’s also made a new home in parts of the United States? This tiny frog might be small, but it’s got a big voice and a bigger story. From its impressive vocal range to its surprising journey to the mainland, the Common Coqui is one amphibian that’s hard to ignore — especially when the sun goes down.
Size & Physical Appearance
Common Coquis are relatively small frogs. Most adults measure about 1 to 2 inches long (2.5 to 5 cm) — roughly the size of a bottle cap. Their coloring can vary quite a bit, but they’re usually light brown to grayish with some having subtle striping or mottled patterns down their backs.
Males and females look pretty similar, though males tend to be slightly smaller and are the ones that sing. The juveniles basically look like miniature adults, which is pretty wild — they skip the tadpole stage entirely (more on that in a bit!).
Habitat and Range
The Common Coqui is native to Puerto Rico and was introduced (accidentally) to parts of the southern United States, especially Florida and Hawaii. While it’s not native to the mainland US, you’ll sometimes spot (or more likely, hear) them in urban gardens, nurseries, and humid areas with lots of vegetation.
They prefer warm, moist environments, like tropical forests in their native range or leafy suburban areas in introduced regions. They’re not picky about elevation either — in Puerto Rico, they can live anywhere from sea level up to high mountain forests.
Diet
Despite their small size, Coquis have big appetites. They’re insectivores and help keep insect populations under control. Their usual menu? Ants, crickets, beetles, spiders, roaches, and other small critters they can catch at night.
What’s cool is that they’re ambush predators. They sit still and wait for something tasty to wander by — then strike. In areas with lots of Coquis, their feeding habits can even help reduce pest insects.
Lifespan
In the wild, a Common Coqui usually lives for about 4 to 6 years. In captivity, they can sometimes live longer if given the right care (like proper humidity and diet).
Identification Tips
There are quite a few small frogs in the southern U.S., so telling them apart can be tricky. But here are a few pointers to help spot a Coqui:
- Listen first — that signature “ko-KEE” call is almost always a giveaway. Males sing loudly at night, especially during mating season.
- No webbed feet — unlike many tree frogs, Coquis have toes with pads but no webbing. This helps them climb in rainforests or shrubbery.
- Direct-developing — if you see tiny froglets (not tadpoles), you’re probably looking at a Coqui or another direct-developing species.
- Coloration — their muted brown and tan tones blend in well with bark and leaves, but a light stripe on the back may help you spot them.
They’re easy to tell apart from native frogs in Hawaii or Florida mostly by their sound and lack of webbing. Native tree frogs like the Green Treefrog have bright green coloration and call sounds that are more “clucking” or trilling than the Coqui’s two-note song.
Fun Fact
Here’s something pretty amazing — Coquis don’t have a tadpole stage. Instead of laying eggs in water, females lay gelatinous eggs on land, and the young hatch as fully formed, tiny frogs. No swimming pool required! This is called direct development, and it’s pretty unusual among amphibians.
In Summary
The Common Coqui isn’t just another tiny frog. It’s a remarkable little creature with a big voice, a unique life cycle, and a growing presence in parts of the US. Whether you’re hearing one on a trip to Puerto Rico or spotting one in a Florida nursery, it’s worth taking a moment to appreciate this nighttime singer.
Just remember — while they’re loved in their native habitat, in other places like Hawaii they’ve become invasive, so it’s important to be mindful of their ecological impact outside Puerto Rico.
Got a Coqui story or curious about other tree frogs near you? Keep exploring the amphibians around you — they’ve got more personality than you might expect.