Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.101857
Element CodeAAABH01160
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderAnura
FamilyRanidae
GenusLithobates
SynonymsRana palustrisLeConte, 1825
Other Common NamesGrenouille des marais (FR) pickerel frog (EN)
Concept ReferenceFrost, D. R. 1985. Amphibian species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Inc., and The Association of Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. v + 732 pp.
Taxonomic CommentsNewman et al. (2012) noted, but did not name a previously undetected species related to either Lithobates sphenocephalus, L. palustris, or L. pipiens.
The generic taxonomy of American ranids is controversial, with three nomenclatural arrangements being consistent with current understandings of phylogeny: The single-genus arrangement of Yuan et al. (2016) which placed all Eurasian Rana and Pseudorana as well as all American ranids into Rana; the three-genus model of Che et al. (2007), largely in agreement with the earlier arrangement by Frost et al. (2006), which recognizes Pseudorana in Asia, Rana in Eurasia and western North America, and Lithobates in the Americas; and a seven-genus model of Dubois et al. (2021) which recognizes Pseudorana, Rana, and Liuhurana in Eurasia and Amerana (the Pacific Coast ranids of North America), Aquarana (for the bullfrogs and allies), Boreorana (a monotypic genus for Wood Frog, L. sylvaticus), and Lithobates (for the leopard frogs and allies). Here we follow Nicholson (2025) who defer from recognizing Amerana, Aquarana, or Boreorana at this time pending achievement of more phylogenetic stability, especially with respect to the position of the taxon sylvaticus which inconsistently is recovered as sister to the proposed Aquarana or as sister to Lithobates.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2025-10-05
Change Date2001-11-21
Edition Date2025-10-05
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G. (2010); rev. R. L. Gundy (2025)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsThis species is widespread across the eastern U. S. and Canada. It is generally considered abundant and its distribution spotty. It is threatened by habitat loss, habitat degradation, and road mortality.
Range Extent CommentsThis species is widspread across the eastern United States and Canada. The range extends from the Gaspé Peninsula of Quebec to Wisconsin, and south to southern South Carolina, northern Georgia, southern Mississippi, and southeastern Texas (Powell et al. 2016, Dodd Jr. 2023). This frog is absent from most of the far southeastern United States (e.g., Florida, southern Georgia) and the prairie region of Illinois and vicinity.
Occurrences CommentsThis species is represented by many and/or large occurrences throughout most of the range.
Threat Impact CommentsHabitat loss is a primary threat. While this species is adaptable to some agricultural and developed landscapes, population abundance is reduced (Dodd Jr. 2023). Road mortality is a threat during dispersal events (Dodd Jr. 2023). Invasive plants, such as Amur honeyscuckle (Lonicera maackii) and common reed (Phragmites australis), can introduce contaminants into water sources and make them unsuitable for this species (Dodd Jr. 2023).