(Plethodon cinereus)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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IUCN Red List | LC - Least Concern |
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NatureServe | N5 - Secure S4 - Apparently Secure |
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Minnesota | not listed Species in Greatest Conservation Need |
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Description |
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Eastern red-backed salamander is a small lungless salamander. It occurs in the United States from Maine to North Carolina, west to Minnesota and Illinois. It is common and locally abundant in northeastern Minnesota, where it reaches the western extent of its range, but is absent in the remainder of the state except for an isolated population in Chippewa County. It is found in deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests, under logs and rocks and in small burrows. Adults can be up to 4⅞″ (122 mm) in length but are usually shorter. Females are usually 29⁄16″ to 3½″ (64 to 90 mm) in length. Males are slightly smaller, usually 25⁄16″ to 3½″ (58 to 91 mm) in length. The body is elongated, slender, slightly flattened above, and rounded on the sides. On each side of the body between the forelimbs and the ventral area there are usually 18 or 19, sometimes 17 or 20, prominent vertical depressions (costal grooves). There are two main color phases. Both phases are dark gray or black with small white flecks on the sides, becoming lighter toward the bottom. The belly is strongly mottled with contrasting white and gray, making a salt-and-pepper pattern. The “red-backed” phase has a stripe above, from the head down the back and onto the tail, that may be red, pink, orange, yellow, or white. The stripe often has small black flecks. The “lead-backed” phase does not have a stripe above. It is the same color above and on the sides. The tail is nearly circular in cross section from the base to the tip. There is no circular constriction at the base of the tail. The eyes are large and bulging. The front feet have four toes, and the hind feet have five toes. |
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Size |
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Male: 25⁄16″ to 3½″ (58 to 91 mm) Female: 29⁄16″ to 3½″ (64 to 90 mm) |
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Similar Species |
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Habitat |
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Deciduous, coniferous, and mixed forests |
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Biology |
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Behavior |
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Lifespan |
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Unknown |
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Life Cycle |
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It overwinters underground, under stones, in rotten logs and stumps, and in ant mounds. |
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Adult Food |
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Ants, termites, mites, and other invertebrate insects. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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2/6/2023 | ||||
Occurrence |
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Common |
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Taxonomy |
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Class | Amphibia (amphibians) | ||
Superorder | Batrachia (frogs and salamanders) | ||
Order | Caudata (salamanders) | ||
Suborder | Salamandroidea (mole salamanders) | ||
Family |
Plethodontidae (lungless salamanders) | ||
Subfamily |
Plethodontinae | ||
Genus |
Plethodon (woodland salamanders) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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Synonyms |
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Ambystoma erythronotum Plethodon erythronota Plethodon erythronotum Plethodon huldae Salamandra agilis Salamandra cinerea Salamandra erithronota Salamandra erythronota Salamandra puncticulata Saurophis erythronotus Spelerpes erythronota |
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Common Names |
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eastern red-backed salamander northern red-backed salamander red-backed salamander redback salamander |
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Glossary
Costal groove
On salamanders: vertical grooves along the side of a salamander between the forelegs and the groin, each corresponding to the space between ribs, that aid in keeping the skin moist by transporting water over the surface of the body.
Visitor Photos |
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Share your photo of this amphibian. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach one or more photos and, if you like, a caption. |
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Jeff LeClere |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this amphibian. |
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This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Attach a video, a YouTube link, or a cloud storage link. |
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Other Videos |
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Polymorphism in the Red-Backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) | KNOW #33 Koaw Nature |
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About
Apr 1, 2020 Do you think these salamanders are the SAME or DIFFERENT species? Check out this amazing phenomenon in nature! We'll explore polymorphism in the eastern red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) by examining the most common red-striped phase, the lead-backed (anerythristic) phase, and the yellow-backed (xanthic) phase. |
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⟹ Redback Salamander | Plethodon cinereus | Hazleton Pennsylvania Heirloom Reviews |
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About
Feb 25, 2020 While getting my grow area ready for winter, i came across this brown salamander. After further research i found out it is the Redback Salamander, Plethodon cinereus, a very common species in Pennsylvania. since i found this one, i came across a few more! There are other types out here and as i come across them i will share in a video blog! If you like this video don't forget to LIKE, SHARE, SUBSCRIBE! |
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Created: 2/6/2023
Last Updated: