Pickerel Frog

Taxobox
name = Pickerel Frog
status = LC
status_system = IUCN3.1
trend = stable


image_width = 200px
image_caption = Pickerel frog in the White Mountains (New Hampshire)
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Anura
familia = Ranidae
genus = "Rana"
species = "R. palustris"
binomial = "Rana palustris"
binomial_authority = LeConte, 1825
synonyms =
"Lithobates palustris"
range_

range_map_width = 200px
range_map_caption = Pickerel Frog range

The Pickerel Frog ("Rana palustris"Hillis, D. M. 2007. Constraints in naming parts of the Tree of Life. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 42:331-338.] Hillis, D. M., and T. P. Wilcox. 2005. Phylogeny of the New World True Frigs ("Rana"). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 34:299-314.] ) is a small North American frog, characterized by the appearance of seemingly "hand-drawn" squares on their dorsal surface.

Distinguishing features

The distinctive rectangular spots of the pickerel frog may blend together to form a long rectangle along the back. All other leopard frogs have circular spots. In addition, they have prominent dorsolateral ridges that are unbroken. An important distinguishing mark is the orange or yellow flash pattern found on the inner surface of the hind legs. The frog must be picked up to examine this, as the legs cover the coloration otherwise. The Plains Leopard Frog ("Lithobates blairi") exhibits this coloration as well, but the dorsolateral ridges are inset medially in this species.

Range

The pickerel frog ranges in the west from much of Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, eastern Iowa, through Missouri and down to eastern Texas. To the east they extend through northern Louisiana, most of Mississippi, northern Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina to the coast. Their northern range extends into Canada in the southern reaches of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. The range is spotty through the midwestern states and a field guide should be obtained for the specifics on ranges in a particular area.

Other

The skin secretions of a stressed pickerel frog are known to be toxic to other frogs, as many a novice frog catcher has found when he finds only the pickerel frogs still alive in his bucket. These secretions can also be moderately irritating if they come in contact with the eyes, mucous membranes, or broken skin. It is advisable to wash one's hands after handling pickerel frogs.

Footnotes

References

*IUCN2006|assessors=Hammerson|year=2004|id=58690|title=Rana palustris|downloaded=09 May 2006 Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern
*cite journal | author=Redmer, M. and Mierzwa, K.S. | title=A review of the distribution and zoogeography of the pickerel frog, "Rana palustris", in northern Illinois |journal=Bulletin of the Chicago Herpetological Society | year=1994 | volume=29 |pages=21–30
* (2005): Phylogeny of the New World true frogs ("Rana"). "Mol. Phylogenet. Evol." 34(2): 299–314. doi|10.1016/j.ympev.2004.10.007 [http://www.cnah.org/pdf_files/215.pdf PDF fulltext] .
* (2007) Constraints in naming parts of the Tree of Life. "Mol. Phylogenet. Evol." 42: 331–338.Arnold, K. 2000. "Rana palustris" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed September 25, 2007 at http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Rana_palustris.html.