HerpIndiana

Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus)

Adult from Jefferson County

Description

Coloration: A small, short-legged salamander, typically with a wide red dorsal stripe. Red-backed Salamanders have a basic dorsal coloration of dark gray to black with some lighter speckling. The striped version of this animal has a wide red stripe covering part of the head, the entire dorsum, and most of the tail. An unstriped, or “leadback” version is also common in many areas. This version of the Red-backed Salamanders lacks the red stripe; instead, the dark coloration with light speckling covers the entire dorsum. Ventral coloration is mottled gray and black with a lighter chin and throat. A third, much less common, version has been described from some areas in southeastern Indiana. Its dorsum is completely red or orange, and it has a lighter belly than the others of its species (Minton 2001, pg. 90-91).

Size: Adults reach total lengths of 3-4.5 inches (Minton 2001, pg. 92).

Larvae: Hatchlings and young Red-backed Salamanders look similar to adults, with a smaller tail relative to body size (Petranka 1998, pg. 335).

Eggs: Eggs are laid in clusters within logs or other natural cavities. They are often suspended from the roof of these cavities, and the female remains with them until hatching. Eggs are a white or yellowish color at the time of laying (Petranka 1998, pg. 339). Average clutch sizes are 3-14 eggs (Minton 2001, pg. 93).

Distribution

Red-backed Salamanders can be found throughout Indiana, excluding the northwestern sand prairie region (Minton 2001, pg. 92).

Activity

Red-backed Salamanders can be found to some degree throughout the year, though they are most common in the spring and fall (Minton 2001, pg. 92).

Breeding Season: Breeding occurs from late fall to early spring, and nesting takes place from late spring to late summer in the Midwest (Minton 2001, pg. 93).

Taxonomy

The Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) has no subspecies. It belongs to the genus Plethodon, which contains 4 species in Indiana, and is in the family Plethodontidae.

Natural History

Habitat: Red-backed Salamanders can be found in a variety of woodland with moist soil and cover. Minton reports a preference for beech maple forest, though they will inhabit other types. These salamanders are very secretive and almost always flipped under cover (Minton 2001, pg. 92). I have flipped them under a wide array of cover objects including logs, bark, rocks, leaves, and some artificial cover.

Feeding: Red-backed Salamanders feed on a variety of terrestrial invertebrates. Cannibalism of both eggs and juveniles has been observed (Petranka 1998, pg. 340).

Breeding: Breeding lasts from fall to early spring, though autumn seems to be the preferred time. After a series of courtship behavior, the male drops a spermatophore, which the female soon picks up. Breeding is reported as annual in some places and every-other-year in others (Petranka 1998, pg 338).