eastern Red-backed Salamander
Plethodon cinereus
Conservation Status:
State Status: Secure (NatureServe, 2025)
Global Assessment: Least Concern (IUCN, 2020)
Photographed by Christine Young in Sharon
Description
Eastern red-backed salamanders grow up to four inches long (Quinn 2020). They come in two color morphs, either red-back or lead-back. Red-back morphs are dark brown with a bright orange stripe running from the head down the back. Lead-backs lack the stripe and red pigment, being a plain black or brown color.
Habitat
This species is most abundant in moist forests and wetlands.
Behavior
These salamanders are very abundant in Connecticut. They are often hidden under debris, like rocks and logs, on forest floors. Prey includes small arachnids and insects.
Eastern red-backed salamanders breed early in the summer. Eggs are laid in damp areas underneath rocks and logs. They do not have an aquatic larval stage, metamorphosing while still inside their eggs.
Predators of this species are snakes, birds, and small mammals. When threatened, they will usually flee.​
Range
References
iNaturalist. (2024). Observations. California Academy of the Sciences / National Geographic Society. https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?place_id=49&taxon_id=27186.
International Union for Conservation Of Nature and Natural Resources. (2020, December 21). Eastern Red-backed Salamander. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/59334/193391260.
NatureServe. (2025, January 31). Plethodon cinereus. https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100626/Plethodon_cinereus. ​
Quinn, D. P. (2020). Eastern Red-backed Salamander. Connecticut Herpetology. https://www.ctherpetology.com/northern-redback-salamander.
Watkins-Colwell, G. J. et al. (2006). New Distribution Records for Amphibians and Reptiles in Connecticut, with Notes on the Status of an Introduced Species. Sacred Heart University. https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1058&context=bio_fac.​​
Page updated March 1, 2025