Pickerel Frog or Southern Leopard Frog

[craftychipmunk]

My husband found this little guy sitting on the side of road, we are in Tennessee. We were just wondering what kind it was?

[Gnag the nameless]

I think that's a Pickerel frog. The coloration suggest so, as do the spots on its back. If the nose is rather blunt, it is probably a Pickerel frog. A photo of it's nose/face would help us out.

Both frogs require a similar care, so here's a caresheet for the Northern Leopard frog:
Frog Forum - Leopard Frog Care - Rana pipiens (Schreber, 1782) and R. sphenocephala (1886)

[Gnag the nameless]

Thanks for the extra photo's.

Yes, I strongly believe that is a Pickerel frog. I'm no expert on Pickerels and Southern Leopard frogs, but from what I know, that looks much more like a Pickerel frog than a Southern Leopard frog.

[craftychipmunk]

Thank you for your help!

[UncleChester]

I agree with Caspian. The yellow markings on the inside of it's rear legs and the squarish instead of round spots will make this a Pickerel frog. Are you planning to keep it?

[craftychipmunk]

We have a small pond on our property that we have a big bullfrog in. Would it be a problem putting this little guy in with the other one?

[UncleChester]

We have a small pond on our property that we have a big bullfrog in. Would it be a problem putting this little guy in with the other one?

The bullfrog will eat the pickerel frog. A bullfrog can swallow prey almost the same size as itself, and they are voracious. I have read that bullfrogs have developed immunity to the pickerel frogs significant toxins (probably from generations of preying on pickerels), so the bullfrog at least should live.

In other words, I don't recommend it.