Red-backed Salamander

The red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) is completely lungless and respires by absorbing oxygen directly through its moist skin and the lining of its mouth. This requires the salamander to stay in damp, humid microhabitats such as under logs, rocks, and leaf litter in forested areas. Its skin must remain moist at all times for gas exchange to function properly.

Red-backed salamanders are found throughout the forests of eastern North America, from southern Quebec and the Canadian Maritimes down through the Appalachian region and into the southeastern United States. They are terrestrial, living on the forest floor rather than in ponds or streams. They are one of the most abundant small vertebrates in temperate forests across this range.

Plethodon cinereus has two common color morphs: the "red-backed" phase, featuring a straight reddish-orange stripe running down the back, and the "lead-backed" (or dark) phase, in which the stripe is absent and the body is uniformly dark gray or black. Both morphs have salt-and-pepper speckling on their sides. The frequency of each morph varies geographically across their range.

Yes, red-backed salamanders are notably territorial, defending small areas under logs and rocks from other salamanders. They use chemical scent marking to establish and signal ownership of their territory. Males and females can both be territorial, and contests over prime cover objects can involve aggressive displays and biting.