Eastern Red Back Salamander

Eastern Red Back Salamander(Plethodon cinereus)

The Eastern Red Back Salamander is a small amphibian measuring up to only 4-5 inches. Found in most county's excluding a couple in the north west of the state..

There are three color phases the normal(red, orange, yellow, tan, and brown striped on a dark background). The lead phase where the bold stripe is absent. The last phase is the red or orange phase where the whole body is a red or orange color. This phase has only been recorded in Ripley County.

Breeding usually take place in the fall. After several courtships the female deposits up to 14 eggs in under logs or in burrow. Unlike other salamanders these hatch out of the egg into tiny salamanders.

Red Back Salamanders can be found in most moist wooded area. Usually found under logs. They seem to absents in the hotter months of the summer but my emerge after a long hard rain.

Often confused with the Northern Zigzag Salamander(Plethodon dorsalis) and the Northern Ravine Salamande(Plethodon electromorphus).