Eastern Red-backed Salamander
Plethodon cinereus
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Cordats)
- ClassAmphibia (Amfibis)
- OrderCaudata (Caudats)
- FamilyPlethodontidae (Lungless Salamanders)
- GenusPlethodon (Woodland Salamanders)
- SpeciesPlethodon cinereus (Eastern Red-backed Salamander)
The red-backed salamander (Plethodon cinereus) is a small, hardy woodland salamander species in the family Plethodontidae. It is also known as the redback salamander, eastern red-backed salamander, or the northern red-backed salamander to distinguish it from the southern red-backed salamander (Plethodon serratus). The species inhabits wooded slopes in eastern North America, west to Missouri, south to North Carolina, and north from southern Quebec and the Maritime provinces in Canada to Minnesota. It is one of 56 species in the genus Plethodon. Red-backed salamanders are notable for their color polymorphism and primarily display two color morph varieties ("red-backed" and "lead-backed"), which differ in physiology and anti-predator behavior. Wikipedia →
40–50% of wildlife watchers report a Eastern Red-backed Salamander sighting in Shenandoah National Park, based on 449 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
Closest Relatives at Shenandoah National Park
White-spotted Slimy Salamander
Plethodon cylindraceus
Shenandoah Salamander
Plethodon shenandoah
Valley and Ridge Salamander
Plethodon hoffmani
Northern Two-lined Salamander
Eurycea bislineata
Seal Salamander
Desmognathus monticola
Dusky Salamander
Desmognathus fuscus
Red Salamander
Pseudotriton ruber
Spring Salamander
Gyrinophilus porphyriticus
Long-tailed Salamander
Eurycea longicauda
Southern Two-lined Salamander
Eurycea cirrigera
Three-lined Salamander
Eurycea guttolineata
Four-toed Salamander
Hemidactylium scutatum
📅 Monthly Probability
☀️ When They're Spotted
Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)
Global Distribution
Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.
where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is) · parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there
Parks Where Found
| # | Park | Country | Probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Acadia National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Cape Breton Highlands National Park | 🇨🇦 Canada |
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Eastern Red-backed Salamander in Shenandoah National Park?
About 45% of wildlife watchers report a Eastern Red-backed Salamander sighting in Shenandoah National Park, based on 449 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Eastern Red-backed Salamander in Shenandoah National Park?
October has the highest sighting rate for Eastern Red-backed Salamander in Shenandoah National Park in our monthly data.