Plethodon cinereus
Eastern Red-backed Salamander / Salamndre rayée
Description
The Eastern Red-backed Salamander is long and slender. There are two different colour
phases. The more typical is black or dark gray with a broad, straight-edged stripe from
the top of the head down the back and onto the tail. This stripe is usually red or orange
but may be yellow, pink or gray. Less common is the "leadback" form which lacks the stripe.
Both forms have black and white mottling on the belly.
Confusing Species
The Western Red-backed Salamander is almost
identical but has black and white flecking on the belly rather than mottling. It is
restricted to western North America. In eastern Canada, the
Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander can
look similar but always has a pale bar from the eye to the corner of the mouth and often
has dark V's down the centre of the back. In the
Northern Two-lined Salamander the stripe down the back always has a dark line on
either side.
Distribution
The Eastern Red-backed Salamander is widely distributed in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence
Basin and eastern maritime states and provinces. It is found in southern Ontario and Quebec
as well as New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. It is found as far
south as North Carolina.
Habitat
Eastern Red-backed Salamanders are most commonly found in deciduous or mixed forests,
although they are sometimes found in cool moist white pine or northern hemlock forests.
They are restricted to mature woodlands with lots of fallen logs and coarse woody debris.
Reproduction
Breeding usually occurs in the fall but may take place in the spring. Young females
breed in their third year and may only breed in alternate years after that. From 3-13
eggs are laid in June or July in a rotting stump or log. The female tends the eggs for
six to eight weeks and the young hatchlings for one to three weeks. When the young first
hatch they have small gills but these are soon resorbed and the young then resemble the
adults.
Natural History
Eastern Red-backed Salamanders defend small territories from other salamanders and tend to
wander very little. In some sites they can be extremely abundant, outnumbering birds and
small mammals. They may hibernate underground, in the dens of small mammals or even in ant
mounds.
Conservation Concerns
There is no evidence of decline in this species.
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