The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) is releasing the Recovery Plan for the Guajón or Puerto Rican Demon. The goal of the plan is to protect and stabilize existing populations and habitat of the guajón, and ultimately remove the species from the List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife. The Service plans to collaborate with other agencies and private landowners to avoid or minimize adverse effects to the species and ensure its conservation. This plan describes actions necessary for the conservation of this frog species, establishes criteria for recognizing the recovery levels for downlisting or delistingthe species, and estimates the time and cost for implementing the recovery measures needed. The guajón was listed as threatened on June 11, 1997, under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended.

The guajón is one of sixteen species of frogs from the genus Eleutherodactylus, commonly known as “coquíes” that inhabit the island of Puerto Rico, and the second largest species found on the island. Females are larger than males, have solid brown coloration on the dorsal area, are uniformly white on the ventral area with white-rimmed eyes, and large, truncate disks on its feet. Males have yellow coloration on the ventral area extending from the vocal sac to the abdomen and flanks. The voice of the guajón is low and melodious.

The frog is named after the habitat where it was originally found. “Guajonales” are caves formed by large boulders of granite rock. The guajón is very limited in its geographic distribution. The species lives at low and intermediate elevations from 18 to 1,183 feet above sea level in the “Cuchilla de Panduras” mountain range (Maunabo, San Lorenzo and Yabucoa), the municipalities of Patillas, San Lorenzo, Humacao and Las Piedras. The guajón also inhabit streams with patches of rock without cave systems.

Threats to this species include deforestation and earth movement for agricultural, urban and rural development, and highway construction. In addition, the use of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers in adjacent areas, illegal garbage dumping, and the effects of catastrophic natural events such as droughts and hurricanes threaten the guajón.

Need a Copy of the Plan? Call 787-851-7297, ext. 224 to request a copy or send a written request to:

To View the Plan on the web:

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting, and enhancing fish and wildlife and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 95-million acre National Wildlife Refuge System, which is comprised of more than 540 national wildlife refuges, thousands of wetlands, and other special management areas. It also operates 69 national fish hatcheries, 64 fish and wildlife management offices, and 81 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program, which distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

Photo credit -- A.R. Puente Rolón

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