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