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El Coquí: A Puerto Rican Cultural and National Symbol

Coquí with Puerto Rican Flag. Creative Commons License.

Puerto Ricans consider the coquí a cultural and
national symbol. It is part of the Puerto Rican identity since the time of the
Taíno Indians. Puerto Rican nights are accompanied by the singing of the coquís.
"Coquí, coquí." Poems,
songs, and stories have been made about the coquí. Tourists, for that reason,
find a lot of coquí-themed souvenirs when they visit they island.

Interesting facts about the coqui are:

Although it is known as coqui, its scientific
name is Eleutherodactylus.

The coquí is a very small frog, one or two
inches.

Coquís appear brown, green, and yellow, but are
really translucent.

For centuries, the coquí has been a cultural
and national symbol in Puerto Rico.

The Taíno Indians engraved coquís in their
pottery and stones.

There are more than 700 species of coquís, but
about 17 species are native to Puerto Rico.

Coquís also inhabit in Central and South America
and other Caribbean islands.