Rana palustris
(Pickerel Frog, Pickerel Frog)Conservation Status
Population Analysis
- For the 10,921 species in the Class Amphibia (Amphibians), we average 11.19 observations each in our database; for the Pickerel Frog, we have 414 observations. Compared to other species in this Class, this species is moderately common.
- A two-sample t-test can be used to determine whether the trend in observations of the Pickerel Frog is the same as the trend in observations of Amphibia. Is this species just as common, as a proportion of all observations, as it once was? The answer is no, changes in observation rate of this species significantly differ from changes in observation rate of its Class. (t=8.816, p<0.001)
- How do observation rates of the Pickerel Frog differ from those of Amphibia? To answer this, we examined the percentage of observerations for Amphibia that were observations of the Pickerel Frog each year. We then correlated this percentage with observation year. If observations of the Pickerel Frog are becoming more common relative to other species of Amphibia, the correlation should be positive, but if it is becoming less common, the correlation should be negative. In fact, the correlation is negative (r=-.31), with a negative slope (m = -.008), suggesting that the Pickerel Frog may be in decline relative to other species of Amphibia. This correlation is statistically significant. (F = 79.03, p<.05)
- The scatter chart to the right shows the percentage of all observations for Amphibia each year that were observations of the Pickerel Frog.
Status
The Pickerel Frog is listed as a species of Undetermined Status in South Carolina and is uncommon to rare in that state. Its status is not known in Georgia. Protection of clear, cool mountain streams is necessary to ensure habitat for this species.
Taxonomy
- Domain: Eukaryota
Whittaker & Margulis,1978 - eukaryotes
- Kingdom: Animalia
Linnaeus, 1758 - Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
- Subkingdom: Bilateria
(Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
- Branch: Deuterostomia
Grobben, 1908 - Deuterostomes
- Infrakingdom: Chordonia
(Haeckel, 1874) Cavalier-Smith, 1998
- Phylum: Chordata
Bateson, 1885 - Chordates
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
Cuvier, 1812 - Vertebrates
- Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
auct. - Jawed Vertebrates
- Superclass: Tetrapoda
Goodrich, 1930 - Tetrapods
- Class: Amphibia
(am-FIB-ee-uh)
Linnaeus, 1758 - Amphibians
- Subclass: Lissamphibia
Haeckel, 1866
- Order: Anura
(Rafinesque, 1815) Hogg, 1839:152 - Frogs, Toads
- Suborder: Neobatrachia
- Order: Anura
(Rafinesque, 1815) Hogg, 1839:152 - Frogs, Toads
- Subclass: Lissamphibia
Haeckel, 1866
- Class: Amphibia
(am-FIB-ee-uh)
Linnaeus, 1758 - Amphibians
- Superclass: Tetrapoda
Goodrich, 1930 - Tetrapods
- Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
auct. - Jawed Vertebrates
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
Cuvier, 1812 - Vertebrates
- Phylum: Chordata
Bateson, 1885 - Chordates
- Infrakingdom: Chordonia
(Haeckel, 1874) Cavalier-Smith, 1998
- Branch: Deuterostomia
Grobben, 1908 - Deuterostomes
- Subkingdom: Bilateria
(Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - (Hatschek, 1888) Cavalier-Smith, 1983 - bilaterians
- Kingdom: Animalia
Linnaeus, 1758 - Linnaeus, 1758 - animals
Unambiguous Synonyms:
- Rana palustris mansuetii Hardy, 1964
Notes:
Name Status: Accepted Name. Latest taxonomic scrutiny: 29-Aug-2005
Physical Description
Species Rana palustris:
Color: Gray to tan, with two rows of dark brown to black blotches running down the back. The blotches are somewhat square to rectangular, and many appear to have a lighter ring of color around them. The belly is light with dark specks. The rear portion of the belly and the inner thighs are bright yellow or orange. xxOther things to look for: This frog has distinctive gold dorsolateral folds running down the back to the legs.
Size/Age/Growth:
A slender, medium-sized frog, 4.5 - 8.9 cm (1 3/4 - 3.5 in) in length.
Images:
Distribution
Range and Population
North America
Habitat
Prefers waters that are cool and clear, and can be found in a variety of wooded habitats with nearby bogs or shaded streams. Prefers to locate in low, dense vegetation near cool, shaded bodies of water. Often more common along streams than other large frogs. At times, it will move well away from water into grassy fields.
Diet
Eats insects and other small invertebrates.
Reproduction
The Pickerel Frog breeds in late winter and early spring. The female lays up to 2,500 eggs in several masses in shallow water. Eggs are brown and yellow, and egg masses form jelly-like globs underwater. Eggs are attached to submerged vegetation or other solid underwater structures. Transformation from egg to tadpole to frog can take up to three months
Behavior
The Pickerel Frog secretes an irritating substance through its skin which makes it unappetizing to some predators. If kept in captivity with other frogs, its skin secretion will kill them. Snakes that normally eat frogs will avoid this species.
The pickerel frog is generally nocturnal, often remaining concealed in waterside vegetation. Pickerel frogs generally do not wander as far from water as Leopard Frogs. It is dormant during the coldest winter months.
Song/Voice
Rana palustris
Similar Species
The distinctiveness of the blotches and the color of the belly and legs make this an easy frog to identify. The Southern Leopard Frog is the only frog in Georgia that could be confused with the Pickerel Frog. The Southern Leopard Frog has rounded spots and does not have the yellow to orange coloring on the lower belly and thighs that the Pickerel Frog possesses. The Pickerel Frogs can also be distinguished from similar Southern Leopard Frogs by its squarish dorsal spots.
Members of the genus Rana:
There are approximately 771 species and subspecies in this genus. Here are just 100 of them: R. aberae · R. aberdariensis · R. abyssinica · R. acanthi · R. adenopleura · R. adspersa · R. adspersa edulis · R. adspersus ischindi · R. aequiplicata · R. aesopus · R. affinis · R. afghana · R. agilis · R. albolabris · R. albolabris adiscifera · R. albolabris albolabris · R. albolabris albolaris · R. albolabris parkeriana · R. albotuberculata · R. alsopus · R. altaica · R. alticola · R. amamiensis · R. amieti · R. amnicola · R. amurensis · R. amurensis coreana · R. anchietae · R. andersonii · R. angolensis · R. angolensis chapini · R. anlungensis · R. ansorgii · R. apilis · R. aragonensis · R. arathooni · R. arbalis · R. archotaphus · R. areolata (Crawfish Frog) · R. areolata aesopus (Crawfish Frog) · R. areolata areolata (Southern Crawfish Frog) · R. areolata capito · R. areolata circulosa (Northern Crawfish Frog) · R. areolata sevosa · R. areolata stertens · R. arfaki · R. arvalis · R. arvalis arvalis · R. arvalis wolterstorffi · R. asiatica · R. asiatria · R. asperata · R. asperrima · R. atriculatia · R. attigua · R. aurantiaca · R. aurata · R. aurora (Red-Legged Frog) · R. aurora aurora (Northern Red-Legged Frog) · R. aurora cascadae · R. aurora draytoni · R. aurora draytonii (California Red-Legged Frog) · R. austricola · R. bacboensis · R. balcanica · R. banaorum · R. banjaR. · R. bannanica · R. baramica · R. barbouri · R. basaltica · R. beauforti · R. beddomii · R. bedriagae · R. bergeri (Italian Poolfrog) · R. berlanderi · R. berlandieri (Rio Grande Frog) · R. berlandieri group · R. betsileanus · R. bibronii · R. bicolor · R. binotata · R. blairi (Plains Leopard Frog) · R. blijthi · R. blythi · R. blythii · R. boulengeri · R. boylei · R. boylei aurora · R. boyli · R. boyli boyli · R. boyli sierrae · R. boylii (Foothill Yellow Legged Frog) · R. boylii boylii · R. boylii mucosa · R. boylii muscosa · R. boylii sierrae · R. brachycephala · R. brama · R. breviceps
Bibliography
- Banks, R. C., R. W. McDiarmid, A. L. Gardner, and W. C. Starnes 2003. Checklist of Vertebrates of the United States, the U.S. Territories, and Canada.
- Frost, Darrel R. 1997. Amphibian Species of the World, A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference. Second edition. New York, New York, U.S.A.
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Notes
Contributors:
- Bisby, F.A., Y.R. Roskov, M.A. Ruggiero, T.M. Orrell, L.E. Paglinawan, P.W. Brewer, N. Bailly, J. van Hertum, eds (2007). Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: 2007 Annual Checklist. Species 2000: Reading, U.K.
- Brands, S.J. (comp.) 1989-2006. Systema Naturae 2000. The Taxonomicon. Universal Taxonomic Services, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Accessed April 21, 2007.
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Accessed February 29, 2008. http://www.gbif.org Mediated distribution data from 10 providers.
- Pippen, Jeffrey S. Jeff's Nature Page. Accessed December 8, 2007.
Data Sources:
Accessed through GBIF Data Portal February 29, 2008:
- Bird Studies Canada: Marsh Monitoring Program - Amphibians
- Borror Laboratory of Bioacoustics
- California Academy of Sciences: CAS Herpetology Collection Catalog
- Canadian Museum of Nature: Canadian Museum of Nature Amphibian and Reptile Collection - Anura
- Carnegie Museums: Amphibians and Reptiles
- EMAN Provider: FrogWatch Canada
- Los Angeles County Museum of Natural History: Vertebrate specimens
- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University: MCZ Herpetology Collection - Amphibian Database
- Museum of Vertebrate Zoology: Terrestrial vertebrate specimens
- Yale University Peabody Museum: Peabody Herp Collection DiGIR provider Service
Identifiers:
- Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) Taxonomic Serial Number (TSN): 173435
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility Taxonkey: 234596
- Natural Heritage Network Species Identifier: AAABH01160
- Zipcode Zoo Species Identifier: 948
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