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Write An Essay On Coqui Frog

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Invasive and Dangerous: The Coqui Frog Recently, an invasive and lilliputian frog has had a detrimental effect on the Hawaiian environment. Originally from Puerto Rico, the amphibian arrived in Hawaii and spread like a plague. Such a small frog cannot have that big of an impact, right? Wrong. The Coqui frog is a damaging invasive species of the Hawaiian islands due to its lack of natural predators and adaptability, dangerous eating habits, and its easy distribution among the state. One reason the Coqui Frog is especially harmful to Hawaii’s many ecosystems is because they are adaptable and have no natural predators. For example, the Hawaii Invasive Species Council states the frog has “No natural predators to keep populations in check (and no natural competitors), populations have reached 55,000 …show more content…

According to the Hawaii Invasive Species Council, “Coqui frogs do not travel very far on their own, but when given the chance to hop on a nursery plant, flowers, or vehicle, they can quickly spread. Most coqui arrive on new islands through infested nursery plants and flowers. Intra-island, coqui travel by the movement of plants by humans and may hitch a ride on vehicles” (Coqui). In other words, the frog will latch on to a variety of human transportations and expand their boundaries. Furthermore, Coquis are nocturnal, so the dissemination of the frogs is partially affiliated with the motion and relocation of various house plants (Plant). Residents of Hawaii are evidently a large reason the frog has the ability to grow in numbers and located across the state. Some people when coming across the frog relocate and release it, spreading the frog an even farther distance (which it is illegal to provide transportation to the amphibians) (Plant). Consequently, the frog populations are growing and will continue, unless residents of Hawaii are cooperative in reducing the spread of the

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