Individuals have been observed from southeastern Alaska to north of the Brooks Range, inhabiting diverse vegetation from grasslands to forest, muskeg, and tundra. This smooth-skinned frog is generally light brown or gray in color and has many pattern variations. A dark eye mask is usually evident, and undersurface color is uniformly cream white. A light stripe down the back is often present, and many northern individuals have dark spots on the dorsal surface. The darker coloration of northern frogs is thought to be important to heat economy by absorbing more solar energy.
Additional duff is placed over each pocket to provide more insulation.
Snow cover provides yet another layer of insulation to help these most northern amphibians survive the frigid arctic winter, although winter mortality is still high. In early spring, the male attracts the female to shallow breeding ponds with a duck-like staccato call. The eggs are fertilized externally and the egg masses are usually attached to submerged vegetation to avoid mortality from surface freezing of the natal pond. Development from egg to tadpole to frog occurs at a very rapid rate. This northern adaptation helps ensure complete metamorphosis before fall freeze-up.