I went to the Jordan creek in Lehigh county, PA today. It was a short trip as I was there primarily to hang several scouting cameras. The water was very low and slow. I found an abundance of young eastern toads and either pickeral or leopard frogs. I caught several black nosed dace, 2 cutlip minnows and 2 creek chubs. Also noticed the were alot of parasites on the daces, primarily black spot disease which is caused by a parasitic flatworm and a leech. Enjoy the pics. I used a 2.5 gallon aquarium with the back, bottom & one side spray painted black to hold them. The dace stressed out quickly in this heat. I used a Kodak easy share Z8612 IS digital camera with natural light only- no flash. I didnt photograph the cutlips, they got out when I tried to be greedy and catch something that I saw dart by. The dace are male as you can still see some orange in the pectoral fins. I also found this swallowtail but I dont know what kind it is. I thought black swallowtail but it's got entirely to much blue to be one.

I think it's a spice bush swallowtail.
spicebush

black
black

Nice outting. Your frog is a Pickerel Frog. They typically hang out by streams, whereas Leopards live in meadows. If you ever catch one though check out under its legs. Pickerels will have a bright yellow wash on the hind legs and Leopards will be white.

Andy

Nice outting. Your frog is a Pickerel Frog. They typically hang out by streams, whereas Leopards live in meadows. If you ever catch one though check out under its legs. Pickerels will have a bright yellow wash on the hind legs and Leopards will be white.

I always wondered this. Are they named pickerel frogs because pickerel eat them? I heard they are toxic to other amphibeans, i am not sure if they'd be toxic to fish as well.

Joshua Jarvis
on the topic of esox this comic/fish pun may amuse you http://www.odd-fish....php?comic_id=39

To be honest I am not sure why they are called Pickerel Frogs, or the plant is called Pickerel Weed (or is it rush, either way a cool emergent plant). They are reported to be fairly toxic to other amphibians and I have heard they have killed other frogs placed in the same collecting container. I have also heard otherwise that they didn't kill other frogs in the same collecting container. I am sure a fish, such as a pickerel would have no trouble eating one though.

Andy

To be honest I am not sure why they are called Pickerel Frogs, or the plant is called Pickerel Weed (or is it rush, either way a cool emergent plant). They are reported to be fairly toxic to other amphibians and I have heard they have killed other frogs placed in the same collecting container. I have also heard otherwise that they didn't kill other frogs in the same collecting container. I am sure a fish, such as a pickerel would have no trouble eating one though.

Andy

You are correct, the common name is pickerel "weed". It's a forb, actually. Anyway, I think it has that common name because it shares a similar habitat to pickerel fish. I never know there was such a frog, though.

You are correct, the common name is pickerel "weed". It's a forb, actually. Anyway, I think it has that common name because it shares a similar habitat to pickerel fish. I never know there was such a frog, though.

I did a search on how it gots its name & I quote "And in fact, the name "Pickerel Frog" was coined because this frog often served fishermen well as their bait for the predatory Pickerel Fish. However, despite the Pickerel Fish's fondness for Rana palustris soup, it must be noted that in this case the real predator is, of course, Man and not the Pickerel Fish, for it is Man who catches these frogs and places them on the fishing line. And unfortunately for the Pickerel Frog, a small amount of skin toxin will not stop Homo sapien."