Red-backed Salamander
This curious little fella seemed to be taking advantage of the unusual 50 degree F temperatures(10 degrees C). It was resting on a log that was covered in snow, and was very slow moving. Even with the warmer temperatures, I thought it strange that this salamander was out of hibernation. It had a black body with a red stripe down the middle of its back. This salamander was about 6cm long.
The red-backed salamander exhibits color polymorphism with two common color variations - the 'red-backed' variety has a red dorsal stripe that tapers towards the tail and the 'lead-backed' variety lacks most or all of the red pigmentation. The red-backed phase is not always red, but may actually be various other colors (yellow-backed, orange-backed, or white-backed).
The red-backed salamander is a species of small, hardy woodland salamander in the family Plethodontidae. 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.
