Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, there is a place in El Segundo CA where I used to hear what I thought was a bird or two in some trees in the middle of the night. Until someone told me it was coquis. One day I caught a small brownish frog there, but let it go since I thought it might die before I got it home. Then a month later I caught this guy, he looks completely unlike the first one, but noone knows what it is. Is it a coqui? It doesn't make any noise. The building near these trees is an import building, and one of the things it receives is plants from Hawaii.(so you can understand why there would be coquis in California) I think the frogs die in the winter because at this time there is no longer any noise, but I'm told that in the spring thru fall months the kokee sound will start up again as more frogs escape from the plants. Anyways, I really like the sound. Is there any place I can buy coqui's. And is this frog a type of coqui? or some other type of frog from Hawaii? It's my first amphibian and he seems to be doing really well. I've had him about 3 months.

That does look like a coqui. You should alert your state DNR or EPA office- coquis are an invasive pest that may harm the local ecology.

This area is a desert(Southern California) so no chance of them spreading. The few that survive in the trees until winter hits only do so because some people spray the trees to help them out.(3 trees)

Still, the California authorities should know; actually, so should their Hawaiian counterparts. I understand that Hawaii has instituted procedures to eliminate coquis in nursery plants being shipped off of the Big Island; the procedures' failure or non-implementation is worrisome.

Hawaii tried to kill them think with caffeine spray but couldnt . I for one am glad they couldnt.

based on a quick search, i would say yes, you found a common coqui (Eleutherodactylus coqui)
go to en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eleutherodactylus_coqui to get a good pic and quick description.

I live in Florida we have green treefrogs and the way larger Cuban treefrogs and different toads. During late Nov to early March though mostly warm (few cold nights) they dont call they seem to dissapear than come the rains of Spring/Summer they call every night .

I love it . I think they call only seasonal as last few days its poured hot/humid at night yet no calling yet at same temp in few months they call all night.

Rather hear the chorus than watch tv or listen to music thats how much I love it lol