Red Hills Salamander

The Red Hills Salamander is strictly endemic to the Red Hills region of south-central Alabama. It lives in burrows on steep, shaded slopes within this specific geographic area. It cannot be found anywhere else in the world outside of its narrow range in the Gulf Coastal Plain.

It is designated as a federally threatened species primarily due to habitat loss from timber harvesting and deforestation. Because they spend most of their lives in burrows on steep, forested slopes, clear-cutting destroys the specific microclimates they need to survive. Silvicultural practices and land development continue to threaten its limited geographic range.

It is the largest plethodontid, or lungless, salamander in North America, reaching up to 10 inches in length. It belongs to a monotypic genus, Phaeognathus, meaning it has no closely related sister species. Additionally, unlike many other salamanders, it is completely terrestrial and does not require standing water to reproduce.

This large amphibian primarily feeds on a variety of terrestrial invertebrates, including spiders, millipedes, and earthworms. It hunts these prey items by waiting at the entrance of its burrow at night. Its sedentary lifestyle and reliance on ambush predation are closely tied to the health of the forest floor habitat.