Western Red-backed Salamander

The western red-backed salamander (Plethodon vehiculum) is found in the Pacific Northwest, ranging from southwestern British Columbia down through western Washington and Oregon. It inhabits moist forest floors under logs, rocks, and leaf litter, where humidity levels remain consistently high.

No, the western red-backed salamander is entirely lungless, belonging to the family Plethodontidae—the largest family of salamanders. It respires through its moist skin and the lining of its mouth, which is why it requires consistently humid microhabitats to survive.

No, the western red-backed salamander is fully terrestrial and does not require ponds or streams for reproduction. Females lay their eggs in moist terrestrial locations such as under rotting logs, and the young hatch as miniature versions of the adults, skipping the aquatic larval stage entirely.

The western red-backed salamander feeds on small invertebrates including insects, mites, springtails, worms, and other soil-dwelling arthropods. It is a sit-and-wait predator that forages on the forest floor during periods of high humidity and rainfall.