Home > Frogs > Pickerel Frog

Pickerel Frog

Pickerel frog is a species of frog found in North America. The species can secrete toxins from its skin making it the only poisonous frog native to the United States. Females are larger than the males.



    Kingdom Animalia
    Phylum Chordata
    Class Amphibia
    Order Anura
    Family Ranidae
    Genus Lithobates
    Scientific Name Lithobates palustris


    Size 2 – 4 in (4.5 – 7.5 cm)
    Weight Up to 560 g
    Color Gray or tan with seven to twenty-one non-uniform rectangular dark brown spots arranged in two columns down the back; inner surface of the hind legs have flashes of orange or yellow
    Distribution United States (Wisconsin, southeast Minnesota, eastern Iowa, Missouri, eastern Texas, northern Louisiana, Mississippi, northern Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina); Canada (Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia)
    Habitat Rocky ravines, bogs, meadow streams, around heavily wooded rivers and lakes, along the edges of streams, rivers, lakes, flooded ditches
    Diet Ants, various bugs, spiders, beetles, sawfly larvae, other invertebrates
    Hibernation Fact Hibernate during winter under the silt and debris in its aquatic sites
    Predators Birds, snakes, other frogs
    Breeding Season Early May
    Mode of Reproduction Oviparous (egg laying)
    Clutch Size Around 2000-3000 eggs
    Incubation Period 11–21 days
    Metamorphosis Period Around 87 to 95 days
    Reproductive Age Around 2 years of age
    Average Lifespan Around 5 to 8 years
    IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern

    Pickerel Frog Pictures Gallery

    Published on May 8th 2017 by under Frogs. Article was last reviewed on 30th September 2019.

    Leave a Reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *