Rana palustris Le ConteThe family Ranidae of typical frogs consists of 45 genera and 586 species and is distributed nearly worldwide.
The genus Rana is represented in the Maritimes by 6 species in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, while 3 occur on Prince Edward Island.
The toes on the front legs are unwebbed.
Breeding males can be told from females by the swollen base of the thumbs on the forelegs. This is related to the tight holding they do during amplexus.
The total number of square or rectangular spots on the back ranges from 7 to 21.
The orange underside is acquired with age.
Size: 37 newly transformed young measured from 2.5 to 2.9 cm. Adult males, 41 measured, from 4.9 to 6.4 cm. Adult females, 38 measured, from 5.1 to 7.5 cm.
Distribution in Canada: Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, southern Quebec and southern Ontario. In the United States, south to the Carolinas and as far west as Wisconsin and eastern Texas.
In Nova Scotia, Pickerel Frogs are found in all regions of the mainland and Cape Breton.
Earliest spring record is April 5, 1975, an adult female on a wet highway after midnight at Princedale, Annapolis County, along with 5 Yellow-spotted Salamanders, 6 Spring Peepers and 2 Wood Frogs. Busy night.
In 30 years of field work, the Museum herpetologist has seen only two Pickerel Frog egg masses, both at Minard Brook in Queens County.
Latest fall record is October 30, 1935, at East Roman Valley in Guysborough County.