# Eastern Red-backed Salamander (*Plethodon cinereus*) The Eastern Red-backed Salamander is a small, colorful amphibian that loves to hide under rocks and leaves. They are great at blending in with their surroundings and can be found in moist forests. - **Category:** [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/amphibian) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 82 - **Habitat:** Forests ![Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Plethodon_cinereus1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Brian.gratwicke, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Plethodon_cinereus1.jpg) ## Appearance The Eastern Red-backed Salamander is a small, slender amphibian often displaying a vivid reddish-brown stripe down its back, contrasting with dark sides. Some individuals are uniformly dark gray or black, known as "lead-backs," lacking the dorsal stripe. They are lungless, breathing through their skin and mouth lining. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Amphibia - **Order:** Caudata - **Family:** Plethodontidae - **Genus:** Plethodon ## Interesting facts - Wow! It never drinks water, absorbing it all directly through its moist skin! - Wow! These amazing amphibians spend their cold winters hiding deep underground! - Wow! They come in two color forms: red-striped or entirely dark gray! - Wow! This salamander protects its eggs by coiling around them until they hatch! ## Special abilities - **Escape Artist Tail:** Eastern Red-backed Salamander has a special tail that can break off to distract predators, helping them get away safely. - **Slime Shield:** Eastern Red-backed Salamander can secrete a sticky, bad-tasting substance from its skin to deter predators from eating them. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 5.7-10 cm - **Weight:** 0.002-0.006 kg - **Lifespan:** 5-10 years - **Speed:** 0.1 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-14 ## Diet & Feeding They munch on tiny bugs and worms found in the forest floor! - **Primary Foods:** Ants, Springtails, Mites, Small Beetles, Earthworms - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Black Garden Ant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-garden-ant) (*Lasius niger*) — A favorite meal for these salamanders on the forest floor. - **Eaten by:** Common Garter Snake (*Thamnophis sirtalis*) — Often hunted by snakes moving through leaf litter. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robins forage for them among leaves and soil. - **Shelter:** [Northern Red Oak](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-red-oak) (*Quercus rubra*) — Uses fallen logs and leaf litter from oak trees for cover. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Forest](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/forest): Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life. - [Regenerative](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/regenerative): Regenerative organisms possess the ability to regrow lost or damaged body parts, tissues, or organs. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Amphibians](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/amphibians) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always wash your hands after touching any wild animals. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Eastern Red-backed Salamander? Compare body shape, toes, markings, tail and skin texture. Tadpoles and larvae can look nothing like the adults they turn into. Amphibian Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Eastern Red-backed Salamander? 5.7-10 cm ### How much does Eastern Red-backed Salamander weigh? 0.002-0.006 kg ### How long does Eastern Red-backed Salamander live? 5-10 years ### How fast can Eastern Red-backed Salamander move? 0.1 km/h ### What does Eastern Red-backed Salamander eat? They munch on tiny bugs and worms found in the forest floor! ### Where is Eastern Red-backed Salamander usually found? Forests ### How does Eastern Red-backed Salamander hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Bear Swamp](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bear-swamp) — Massachusetts, US · Nature Reserve - [Blackbird State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackbird-state-forest) — Delaware, US · Forest - [Blackstone Boulevard–Cole Avenue–Grotto Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackstone-boulevard-cole-avenue-grotto-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Broadway-Armory Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-armory-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Camp Misty Mount Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/camp-misty-mount-historic-district) — Maryland, US · Historic District - [Carriage Paths, Bridges and Gatehouses](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/carriage-paths-bridges-and-gatehouses) — Maine, US · Historic District [View all places to see Eastern Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/eastern-red-backed-salamander) ## More Amphibians - [California Slender Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-slender-salamander) (*Batrachoseps attenuatus*) - [Cuban Tree Frog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cuban-tree-frog) (*Osteopilus septentrionalis*) - [European Toad](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-toad) (*Bufo bufo*) - [Western Red-backed Salamander](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-red-backed-salamander) (*Plethodon vehiculum*) --- Source: [Eastern Red-backed Salamander Facts — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-red-backed-salamander)