Scientific Name: Pseudotriton ruber ruber
Size: 4-6 inches (10-15.5 cm) in length

Habitat Type:
Clear, cool streams, springs, to creeks that are fairly shallow with rock-strewn bottoms throughout forested regions and flatlands, swampy areas and marshy regions.

Colorations:

• The color and pattern vary with age.
• The dorsum and sides of the body vary from bright crimson or coral red to purplish brown with heavy marked with irregular rounded black spots.
• Older adults dorsal color maybe orangish to purplish brown with enlarged and fused spots that may be less distinct as an individual ages giving it a murky purplish brown color.
• The chin may have black flecking at the margin.
• The ventral color varies from pinkish to red and contains scattered black spots that may be absent in younger adults.
• The distal half of the tail spotting may also occur.
• Pupils of the eye is yellow.

Characteristics:

• Moderately large and stout species.
• The body is stout.
• The limbs are small and well-developed.
• The tail is laterally compressed with a distinct dorsal keel.
• The head is moderately large and slightly distinct from the body.
• 16-17 costal grooves.

Juvenile coloration and characteristics:

• The dorsal color is bright red.
• The ventral spots may be absent.

Larvae coloration and characteristics:

• Stream-Type
• The ground color is brownish to brownish red with dark mottling.
• The dorsal is weakly mottles or streaked.

Hatchlings coloration and characteristics:

• Stream-Type
• The body is light brown above and all white below.

Confused with:

• Red-Spotted Newt
• Spring Salamander
• Mud Salamander

Coloration/Pattern Photos:
Adults




Juveniles

Larvae

Range Map:

References:

• Hulse, C. and McCoy C. J. and Ellen Censky ,1998. Amphibians and Reptiles of Pennsylvania and the Northeast. 121-124pp.
• Petranka, James W. ,1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. 299-306pp.

Photo Credits:

• Jason Poston
• Billy Brown
• Bob Hamilton
• Jeff Hankey
• Tom Diez
• Kyle Loucks
• Matthew Middleton