Nothern Red Salamander

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
Red Salamnder - By: Tom Diez Red Salamnder - By: Tom Diez Red Salamander - By: Jason Poston
Red Salamander - By: Jason Poston Red Salamnder - By: Jeff Hankey Red Salamnder - By: Jeff Hankey
Red Salamander - By: Kyle Loucks Red Salamnder - Older Adult - By: Tom Diez Red Salamnder - Older Adult - By: Bob Hamilton
Juveniles
Red Salamander - Juvenile - By: Billy Brown
Larvae
Red Salamnder - Larvae - By: Bob Hamilton Red Salamnder - Larvae - By: Tom Diez Red Salamnder - Larvae - By: Bob Hamilton
Red Salamnder - Larvae - By: Bob Hamilton

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