Description of Rana iciclensis White & White

Size: Approximately 72 inches snout to vent when full grown, but diminishes rapidly with age in its normal environment.

Color: White, but not albino. Its color contributes to camouflage in its snowy habitat.

Metabolism: Metabolic rate is extremely low. In fact, it is undetectable at its normal body temperatures, which never exceed 32ºF. At air temperatures above freezing, the only movement is a slight slumping of the unsupported head. Without a detectable metabolic rate, it is hard to imagine how this organism attained such large size without some external source of energy. The high solubility of oxygen at low temperatures may explain the lack of hemoglobin, which is found in all related species. In vertebrates, this hemoglobinless condition also occurs in a few Antarctic fish that also have body temperatures below 32ºF.

Habitat: Rana iciclensis is known from only one location in northwestern New Castle County, Delaware. It first appeared on a front lawn in Nottingham Green in early February 2003 after a snow storm and disappeared in a mound of snow during the Blizzard of 2003 only to reappear a week later with slightly modified morphology. Its survival much beyond the first week of March is doubtful.

Reproduction: Given the large size of this animal, it is hard to believe that it had not been observed before either as adults or in immature stages. That and no clear identification of its sex has led local observers to suggest spontaneous generation. Based on a single occurrence, the lack of vocalizations that normally are involved in mate attraction suggest unusual reproductive strategies. The recent trend in Global Warming makes it unlikely that this species will reappear in Delaware again for some time, although sighting to the north should be considered. Unconfirmed sightings from central Pennsylvania suggest a four-year, leap year cycle.

Affinities: In general appearance, Rana iciclensis shows clear similarities to R. catesbiana Shaw, commonly known as the Bullfrog. However, this species can easily be distinguished by its color, size, metabolism, and complete lack of vocalization.

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Posted 12 December 2003 by H. B. White