The 52 Week Project: Week 22: Coquí! Coquí!
Last weekend, a few friends and I went to Puerto Rico. While we had a great time, we neglected to do our research and were surprised to realize May is the rainy month on the island. Each morning we would go to the beach for the few hours of sun and then migrate to the pool bar for the inevitable afternoon thunderstorms. As evening came, rain or shine we were met with a chorus sung by hundreds of frogs. And not just any frogs - these were the tiny, magical Coquís, who thanks to their distinct, persistent calls are the pride of Puerto Rico. From songs to folklore, the Coquí is an indelible part of la cultura del Boriqua.
Legend has it that the indigenous Tainos knew the more powerful Spaniards were about to take over their island. The Taino leader, named Coquí, was well aware of his inability to defeat the Spanish by force, so he instead had his people transformed into frogs. In doing so he both saved their lives and guaranteed they would always remain in their native land. The nightly symphony of frogs is therefore considered a tribute to their dear leader.
While the Coquí is a treasure in Puerto Rico, you would be hard pressed to find any nostalgic Coquí tales in Hawaii. Apparently some frogs made it to the Hawaiian islands via transplanted plants, and their population grew rapidly. While the Coquí! call is celebrated as a beautiful song in San Juan, it is loathed as a cacophonous nuisance in Waikiki. The battle against the Coquí has raged for years, from town hall meetings to mass eradications. It's obvious that the poor little frogs have few friends outside of Puerto Rico.
Where do I stand on the issue? I love the Coquí, its distinguished chirp, and the history surrounding it. It just might be my favorite frog.
Not to worry. James Cameron will direct a Walt Disney movie about them and they will become the pet frog of choice around the world to rapidly infest sewers from New York to Los Angelos,Paris, London and Madrid.
Ah but the problem is the Coquí is very particular in terms of the climate it requires - and rats also like to eat them... so I highly doubt the sewers are an option!
With the able assistance of the Wilhelmina Zoo, Oceanographic Museum of Monaco and the Public Aquarium in Nancy, France highly credentialed, highly skilled members of the Oceanographic Community clone a strain of Caulerpa taxifolia (note the use of specific Latin scientific name) as the perfect "aquarium" species of decorative tank seaweed.
globally through retail pet supply outlets.
It has become one of the most prolific and destructive invasive coastal undersea plants in the world.
Economic damage may far exceed any Gulf Oil Spill or other human activity.
It was on PBS, so it must be right.
The transfiguration of Taino Indians into Coquis brings to mind the morphing of the Boricua Eleutherodactylus coqui Béka into a Teknős Béka, possibly one on Bald Head Island, North Carolina. Béka is Magyar for frog, while Teknős Béka – a frog with a teknő, which could be a bowl or some sort of container – means turtle…Portuguese is not much help with all this: tartaruga for turtle, but rã for frog – the tilde over the "a" should avoid any confusion with the Egyptian Ra which takes the form of a bull or, occasionally, of a falcon.
Absolutely delightful! Very well done.