Colorations of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander

The Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) is the most abundant salamander species in northeastern forests of North America. Eight phenotypes are currently known: the red-backed (striped), lead-backed (unstriped), and erythristic morphs, as well as the iridistic, albino, leucistic, amelanistic, and melanistic colour anomalies. The various colorations of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander are presented on this site in order to stimulate interest among naturalists who observe this species from time to time.

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Articles

A review of colour phenotypes of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus, in North America

Silver-white variants of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon cinereus, from eastern Canada

Phénotypes de la salamandre cendrée (Plethodon cinereus) dans le nord-est de l'Amérique du Nord

Questioning the use of an amphibian colour morph as an indicator of climate change

Evolutionary response to global change: climate and land use interact to shape color polymorphism in a woodland salamander

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - red backed and lead backed — Red-backed (striped) and lead-backed (unstriped) morphs of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (*Plethodon cinereus*).

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 8 — Distinctive “salt-and-pepper” appearance of the ventral body of a lead-backed morph of *P. cinereus*.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 9 — Slight colour variation of a red-backed morph of *P. cinereus*.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 10 — Cream coloration of the dorsal stripe of a red-backed morph of *P. cinereus*.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 23 — Shade of gray coloration of the dorsal stripe of a red-backed morph of *P. cinereus* (silver-white variant).

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 20 — Another example of colour variation of the dorsal stripe of a red-backed morph of *P. cinereus* (silver-white variant).

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 2 — Chestnut coloration of a lead-backed morph of *P. cinereus*.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 21 — A lead-backed morph of *P. cinereus* with blue pigmentation.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 22 — Ventral view of the previous *P. cinereus* specimen, with blue pigmentation.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 5 — The erythristic morph of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (*Plethodon cinereus*).

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 11 — Another example of erythrism of *P. cinereus*, with black mottling on the tail.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 12 — A partially erythristic Eastern Red-backed Salamander (*Plethodon cinereus*).

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 13 — The iridistic colour anomaly of the red-backed morph of *P. cinereus*.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 14 — The iridistic colour anomaly of the lead-backed morph of *P. cinereus*.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 4 — Another case of iridism of the lead-backed morph of *P. cinereus*.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 15 — The albino colour anomaly of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (*Plethodon cinereus*).

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 16 — The leucistic colour anomaly of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (*Plethodon cinereus*).

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 18 — Another example of leucism of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (*Plethodon cinereus*).

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 6 — Dorsal view of a partially leucistic Eastern Red-backed Salamander (*Plethodon cinereus*).

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 7 — Ventral view of the previous *P. cinereus* specimen, showing the translucent aspect of the body.

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 17 — Partial leucism in another Eastern Red-backed Salamander (*Plethodon cinereus*).

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 3 — The amelanistic colour anomaly of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (*Plethodon cinereus*).

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - coloration 19 — Another example of amelanism of the Eastern Red-backed Salamander (*Plethodon cinereus*). *Note: the red-eye effect is due to the photographic flash.*

Acknowledgements

Contributors: Carl D. Anthony (John Carroll University), Philippe Beaupré (MFFP), Lyne Bouthillier (MFFP), Zacheriah T. Cota-Weaver, Jeffrey G. Davis (Cincinnati Museum Center), Patrick Galois (Amphibia-Nature), Claudine Genest (Amphibia-Nature), John Gilhen (Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History), Sean M. Hartzell (Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania), Daniel J. Hocking (University of New Hampshire), Shannon Lynn, Ronald Merrick, Jean-David Moore (Forêt Québec), Martin Ouellet (Amphibia-Nature), Taylor Parham, Erin Postenka (Niagara College), Dalton Ramsey, Rebecca Smith, Don E. Swann, Rick Van de Poll (Ecosystem Management Consultants of New England), Lori A. Williams (North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission).

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