Rana palustris
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Pickerel Frogs are similar to Northern Leopard Frogs in general
size and appearance with a few distinct differences. Pickerel frogs have
rectangular dark spots arranged neatly in two parallel rows down their
back, a light line on the upper jaws and bright yellow flashes under their
thighs. They are from 1 3/4 to 3 inches long (4.4 to 7.5 cm) and may appear bronzy or brownish. They live in cool streams with grassy margins and fens, usually but not always near woods.
In May, males make a very quiet, one to two second long snore as they call for their mates. Females can lay thousands of eggs in submerged masses. The eggs hatch to tadpoles which emerge later in the summer. Curiously, few snakes eat Pickerel Frogs. Herpetologists believe this is due to skin secretions which render the frogs distasteful. | |||||||||||||||||||||
Ellin Beltz ebeltz@ebeltz.net October 26, 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||
