Pickerel Frog

Rana palustris

by Vy

Classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Anura
Family: Ranidae
Genus: Rana
Species: Palustris

Physical Description

The slender pickerel frog has bulging eyes, long legs, a lanky body, two big ridges between its back and sides, and smooth skin. Pickerel Frogs are spotted, but with irregular rectangular brown spots in rows. The basic color is yellow brown with orange on the underside of the back legs. Pickerel frogs are 1 3/4 to 3 1/4 inches long. This frog's croak sounds like a long snore.

Diet and Feeding Habits

Insects and other small invertebrates are favorite foods. Pickerel frog tadpoles also eat plants. So they would be carnivores, and their diet consists mostly of small insects & other invertebrates. And frog is a prey for snakes.

Reproduction

Pickerel frogs begin to reproduce at two years of age. In spring males begin calling to attract females. The female lays a blob of 700 to 3,000 eggs in the water. It takes about two weeks for the eggs to hatch and 8 to 11 weeks for tadpoles to develop into frogs.

Habitat

Pickerel Frogs often inhabit cool, wooded streams, and seeps. In the summer they are found in grassy fields. Their habitat has to be wet & moist.

Role in the Ecosystem

Pickerel Frogs are nocturnal and rouse from hibernation in early spring. They hibernate from October until around March & April. You may hear a steady low croak, that maybe calling from under water. It's a carnivore, it eats insects. This species does not seem to adversely affect humans at all. These frogs are not of great economic importance to humans. They are not kept as pets due to their skin secretions. They are occasionally used as fishing bait for anglers.

Bibliography

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pickerel_frog - last updated; april 2007
http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rana_palustris.html - last updated; 1995-2006
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/mnh/nature/frogs/pick.htm - last updated; 2000
http://www.enature.com/fieldguides/detail.asp?recnum=AR0031 - last updated; 2005
http://www.mdc.mo.gov/conmag/2001/03/50.htm - last updated; march 7 2001
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snapshots/frogs_toads/pickerelfrog.html - last updated; 2007
http://www.state.tn.us/twra/frogs.html - last updated; march 22 2002