Northern Redback Salamander
Plethodon cinereus
NH Conservation Status: Not listed.
State Rank Status: Widespread and secure, abundant.
Distribution: Throughout NH.
Description: A small (2-4 inches) dark salamander with a reddish or orange stripe down the back from the head to tail. There is also a “leadback” phase where the body is uniformly dark. Both phases have a white and black “salt and pepper” speckled belly.
Commonly Confused Species: Northern two-lined salamander, Four-toed salamander.
Habitat: Wooded areas. Found underground or underneath logs, stumps, rocks, and moist leaf litter. During rainy nights, may climb vegetation in search of prey.
Life History: Eggs are deposited within or under rotting logs and stumps. Hibernates underground in decaying root systems.
Conservation Threats: Species is secure.