Another important distinguishing mark is the orange or yellow flash pattern found on the inner surface of the hind legs of pickerel frogs.

The plains leopard frog (Lithobates blairi) exhibits this coloration as well, but the dorsolateral ridges are interrupted and inset medially in that species.

Pickerel frogs display sexual dimorphism; the females are typically larger and darker in color than the males.

In general, secondary sexual characteristic are not typically evident outside of the breeding season; therefore, pickerel frogs can be rather difficult to sex.

Their northern range extends into Canada in the southern reaches of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia.

Pickerel frogs have varied habitats, the northern populations prefer to live near cold, clear water.

They prefer rocky ravines, bogs and meadow streams, but can be found around lakes and rivers that are heavily wooded.

[6] Pickerel frogs in the southern portion of their range prefer warmer waters, like those of the Coastal Plain and floodplain swamps.

During the winter months they will hibernate under the silt and debris in their aquatic environments; they are usually only active from April to October.

[8] The pickerel frog is a trogloxene species, meaning they occur in caves, but are unable to complete their life cycles there.

The egg masses adhere to woody or herbaceous vegetation, varying in depth from a few centimeters below the surface to four feet (1.2 m) deep.

[18] The pickerel frog's diet consists of ants, spiders, various bugs, beetles, sawfly larvae, and other invertebrates.

[19] A peptidomic analysis of the defensive skin secretion have established the presence of canonical bradykinin and multiple bradykinin-related peptides.

[22] When threatened, pickerel frogs will jump into the water and dive to the bottom to escape predators like birds and snakes.