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October 29, 2023  |  By Matt Hamas

Red-backed Salamander

Red-backed Salamander Live

Red-backed Salamander - IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

They tend to prefer neutral soils and will avoid acidic soils

This creature does not have lungs! Instead, it breathes through a process called cutaneous respiration. So long as its skin is moist, red-backed salamanders can exchange gas through their skin. These interesting amphibians are only two to four inches in length. They can be found from Quebec south to the Carolinas.  They are found as far east as Nova Scotia and as far west as Minnesota. 

Lizard Eye

Throughout the northeast US these salamanders prefer damp forest floors where they can maintain contact with the soil. Interestingly, these salamanders have soil preferences, based on the PH of the soil. They tend to prefer neutral soils and will avoid acidic soils. Scientists have found that low PH soils can lead to mortality for this species. At lesser levels, low PH soils can slow the respiration and development of the salamander, making it more vulnerable to predation. 

As these salamanders rely on soil moisture for survival, they are often found buried in the soil, under rocks, or under logs. When things dry out on the forest floor, red-backed salamanders burrow down into the moist soil. The amount of time this creature spends on the surface is proportional to the amount of moisture available. 

Texas Spiny Lizard

This photograph was taken in Brattleboro, Vermont. I was exploring the area with Jay DeGregorio, a featured photographer from back in 2020. Jay was turning over some leaves when he came across this red-backed salamander. Note the sheen off the salamander skin. I proceeded to get down to ground level and take a series of photographs. Then we covered the salamander with leaves and proceeded with our hike. It wasn’t until later when I was reviewing my photographs that I noticed this salamander was looking at something. If you look closely, you will see this salamander is looking at its baby!

The amount of time this creature spends on the surface is proportional to the amount of moisture available

Red-backed Salamander Baby Live

Red-backed salamanders have two color morphs, a “red-back” phase and a “lead-back” phase. Aside from the difference in body color, these morphs also vary in their defense mechanisms. The lead-backed morph tends to retreat from predators, while the red-backed morph tends to freeze around predators. One possible explanation is that the red-backed morph uses aposematic coloration to deter predation. Wild Boyz Photography covered aposematic coloration in our Red Spotted Newt article back in 2020. The idea behind the red-backed salamander behavior is that predators will recognize its bright coloration and associate that with toxins and poisons, and leave the salamander be. 

Did you know?

  • Red-backed salamanders primarily eat insects. They will also eat snails, slugs, spiders, and centipedes.
  • Red-backed salamanders breed in June and July. Females produce 4-17 eggs per year. The eggs hatch within eight weeks.
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hiking macro reptile salamander vermont

Article by Matt Hamas

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Matt Hamas and Ben Ivers here. We are focused on fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the environment. We endeavor to bring you a unique perspective of the wild. Our photos are being placed here for you to enjoy. Please feel free to download any of the photos for your personal use. We are currently seeking partners for printing and developing photos.

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