Eastern Red-backed Salamander
Plethodon cinereus
43.0904, -79.0861
Field Notes
Description:
This particular salamander is the most conspicuous lungless salamander in eastern Canada. It is a small, skinny and dainty animal that seems more worm-like than anything else, but the feeble legs and slender body mask a very resilient animal. Given sufficient observation, the charm of this salamander soon emerges as it walks with robotic regularity and occasionally flexes it's body to jump slight distances.
Habitat:
Mature, deciduous or mixed forests; beneath fallen logs and course, woody ground litter.
Notes:
Found at Dufferin Island, Niagara Falls, Canada. Length: 6-13cm. Breeds in fall; female lays 3-13 eggs in spring and hangs them in a clump from the ceiling of a damp stump or log; eggs are guarded by the female for 6-8 weeks until hatching; female also gives some early parental care to the hatchlings.
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