Eastern Red-backed Salamander
Plethodon cinereus
Appearance 2
They have long, slender bodies and long tails. They have two color phases. In the "redback" phase they have a gray or black body with a straight-edged red or orange stripe down the back, extending from the neck to the tail. When they are in the "leadback" phase they lack the red stripe, and have a purely black or grey back instead. Their bellies are a mottled white and gray in both phases, creating a salt and pepper pattern. Red-backed salamanders have 16-19 grooves on their sides.
Habitat 2
These salamanders are found in deciduous forests throughout their range. They live in fallen leaves as well as under rocks, logs, or in small burrows.
Behavior/Reproduction 2
Red-backed salamanders are active during both day and night, depending on weather conditions. They are relatively solitary and defend small territories in which they feed. Red-backed salamanders lay eggs that develop directly into small salamanders. They do not have an aquatic larval stage, unlike other salamanders and most amphibians.
Fun Fact 2
They could be affected by high levels of acid in the soil caused by human-induced factors like acid rain.
Citations 3
http://www.biokids.umich.edu/critters/Plethodon_cinereus/
Sources and Credits
- (c) Ian Marsman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/26747023@N00/11860984
- Adapted by loveem01 from a work by (c) gburg2016, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
- (c) loveem01, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
More Info
iNat Map
| Category | Amphibians and Reptiles |
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