A small lungless salamander that breathes entirely through its skin. They're THE most abundant terrestrial vertebrate in eastern North American forests by biomass — and most people never see them.
§ Quick facts
§ Encyclopedia
The red-backed salamander is a small, hardy woodland salamander species in the family Plethodontidae. It is also known as the redback salamander, eastern red-backed salamander, or the northern red-backed salamander to distinguish it from the southern red-backed salamander. The species inhabits wooded slopes in eastern North America, west to Missouri, south to North Carolina, and north from southern Quebec and the Maritime provinces in Canada to Minnesota. It is one of 56 species in the genus Plethodon. Red-backed salamanders are notable for their color polymorphism and primarily display two color morph varieties, which differ in physiology and anti-predator behavior.
Source: Wikipedia — Red-backed salamander Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
§ Identification
Field marks. Slender dark salamander with bright red dorsal stripe. Two color phases.
Similar species. Other Plethodon species. Northern Slimy Salamander (no red stripe).
Voice. Silent.
§ Diet & behavior
Diet. Small invertebrates.
Behavior. Lives entirely on land. Most common forest salamander in eastern North America.
§ Range
Eastern North America from Quebec to North Carolina
§ Habitat
Forest leaf litter, rotting logs, under stones
§ Threats
Acid rain depleting calcium-rich leaf litter, climate-driven drying, forest soil compaction.
§ Conservation status
According to the IUCN Red List, the eastern red-backed salamander is currently classified as Least Concern.
§ What helps
Reduce coal-derived emissions. Maintain leaf litter — don't bag and remove. Support sustainable forestry practices.
§ Further reading
- Wikipedia — Red-backed salamander
- www.nwf.org — authoritative profile of Plethodon cinereus
- IUCN Red List · taxon 59340
- iNaturalist · taxon 27545
- GBIF occurrence records
- Encyclopedia of Life — Plethodon cinereus
§ Sources cited
- USGS ARMI
- AmphibiaWeb
- iNaturalist
- IUCN Red List 2014
