Coqui Frogs Essay

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Invasion of Coqui Frogs in Hawaii Invasion of Coqui Frogs in Hawaii Pristine and serene, the island of Hawaii is a destination that has become known by many as paradise. However, the infiltration of Coqui frogs to the Hawaiian Islands has forever changed the character of paradise. Coqui frogs have been a nuisance that has stimulated many issues among the ears of the native people as well as tourist. As night becomes still and peaceful, the noise of the Coqui sings a tune unbearable to many. The invasion of the Coqui frog species threatens Hawaii’s environment, economy, and health, therefore; education of the species is necessary. About Coqui Frogs The origin of Coqui frogs is rooted from Puerto Rico, however; in the 1980s the species had invaded Hawaii through transported potted plants. Coqui frogs are non-venomous; they are light to dark brown in color and commonly have a stripe down the middle of its back. The Coqui is rather small growing to a max length of two inches. At dusk males will come out to begin a high shrieking call of “ko-kee” to attract females. They choose to lay its eggs in the folds of leaves and remain hidden during the day; therefore the movement and sale of potted plants have been linked to their spread (Coqui Frog Information, 2009) the spread of invasive species must be taken seriously because of the destructive impact they have on the environment. Environmental Impact There are many environmental impacts of the Coqui frog in Hawaii however the most prominent impact is its appetite and the explosion of its population. According to Coqui frog information (2009), “Coqui frogs consume more than 50,000 insect’s per-night.” These insects that it consumes consist of native snails and spiders. By consuming such high numbers of insects, the Coqui is jeopardizing native birds and bats that also consume the same insects that the Coqui frog vastly
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