Red Back Salamander
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The Red Back (or Backed) Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) is a small, hardy woodland salamander. They inhabit wooded slopes and throughout most of its range it is often the most common amphibian. It is also known as the Northern Redback Salamander to distinguish it with the Southern Redback Salamander (P. serratus).
Descripiton
The salamander has two distinct color variations the red back, which has a red, orange, dark brown, and sometimes even yellow stripe down the back, and the lead back (or grey back) which can be a uniform black or grey, or have a slightly lighter stripe down the back. Either variation (or both) may occur in any given area, along with apparent intergrades. Red-backed salamanders are small about 2 to 4 inches long and are slender.Reproduction
Males and females typically establish separate feeding and/or mating territories underneath rocks and logs. However, some red-backed salamanders are thought to engage in social monogamy, and may maintain co-defended territories throughout their active period. Breeding occurs in June and July. Females produce from 4 to 17 eggs in a year. The eggs will hatch in 6 to 8 weeks. Not much is known about the dispersal of neonates, although it is thought that neonates and juveniles are philopatric (i.e., stay near their place of hatching for up to 2 years). Furthermore, it has been postulated that red-backed salamanders may engage in extensive parental care (besides incubation of eggs). Young red-backed salamanders may be allowed to enter and feed in the territories of their parents, although this has yet to be empirically demonstrated.References
- Hammerson (2004). [Plethodon cinereus]. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 12 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and justification for why this species is of least concern
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