## Pickerel Frog - Rana palustris

- Diagnostic Features:
  - Size: 1.75 to 3.5 inches (44 to 87 mm)
  - Color:
    - Typically light brown
  - Other:
    - Smooth skin with poison-secreting glands
    - Light line along upper jaw
    - Dorsal spots square and arranged in parallel lines, may merge to form oblong bars
    - Dorsal spots dark and outlined in white
    - Yellow or orange coloration on concealed surfaces of hind limbs
    - Ventral surfaces white with dark mottling
    - Has dorsolateral folds
    - Banded hind legs
- Natural History:
  - Habitat:
    - This frog prefers clear, cool water environments. It is seen in lakes and ponds.
  - Behavior:
    - It is nocturnal and hibernates from November to February. It secretes a toxin when captured.
  - Breeding:
    - Breeding occurs after emerging from hibernation in February and continues to May.
    - Large Egg masses of about 2500 eggs are attached to underwater vegetation.
    - Activity is encouraged by heavy rain
- Voice: Sonogram : Call ( Hall, Elbert, & Barrow Counties ) Spring Peepers in background.
  - Low-pitched vibrant croak lasting 1-2 seconds
  - Only single type of call as in contrast to Southern Leopard Frog, a frequent calling associate
  - Paired vocal sacs
  - May call while completely submerged
  - Call does carry, but can be hard to pick out in mixed chorus situations
- Tadpoles:
  - Tadpole stage: 70 - 80 days
  - Transformed size: 19 - 27 mm
  - LTRF usually 2/3; regardless of size, stage or range
  - iris with iridophores in life; length of one side of A-2/width of medial gap 0.2-0.5; P-2/P-3 ca. 1.2; P-1 with medial gap; midventral marginal papillae large; few scattered submarginal papillae laterally; dorsal fin with high arch and originates anterior to tail-body junction; white line absent; ground color of body purplish-black freckled with lighter pigment, tail fin uniformly speckled; white line extending posteriorly from near base of oral disc usually faint; early spring breeder in lentic and slow-flowing lotic sites over much of designated area except for Florida
- Range:
  - In North America, this frog is found from the Canadian Maritime Provinces south to the Carolinas, and west to form a line from Minnesota to Texas.
  - In Georgia, it is found in the northern part of the state.

  - In Light Blue: Williamson, Gerald K. & Moulis, Robert A., Distribution of Amphibians and Reptiles in Georgia, Special Publication No. 3, Savannah Science Museum, Inc. Savannah, Georgia, 1994
  - In Green: Sound Recordings
  - In Yellow: From Both '94 study and Sound Recordings
  - In Magenta: Photograph, not found by '94, may or may not be sound record
  - In Medium Blue: Photograph and in '94 study, may or may not be sound record
  - In Orange: County Record by other Herp Atlas Volunteers
  - In Red: US Distribution from various sources

June 28, 2003 - wwknapp@mindspring.com