Western redback salamander

The western red-backed salamander (Plethodon vehiculum) is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. The species is found in extreme southwestern Canada and the northwestern United States. The western red-backed salamander is found in temperate rainforests of the Pacific Northwest. It is considered widespread in the region and is not strictly associated with a specific habitat type.

Western redback salamander
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Plethodontidae
Subfamily: Plethodontinae
Genus: Plethodon
Species:
P. vehiculum
Binomial name
Plethodon vehiculum
(Cooper, 1860)

Description

The western red-backed salamander has a slender build with relatively short limbs. Adults average 1.5 to 2 in (3.8 to 5.1 cm) in snout-to-vent length (SVL), and 3 to 4.5 in (7.6 to 11.4 cm) in total length (including tail). The western red-backed salamander has a colored stripe on its back, which extends from the anterior of the head to the end of the tail. The coloration of the stripe is highly variable, ranging from the typical reddish orange to bright yellow, with melanism also being documented in the species.

Distribution and habitat

The western red-backed salamander is found from southwestern Oregon to southwestern British Columbia. Within that geographic range, the salamander is found from the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains to the Pacific Coast. The western red-backed salamander has been found on Vancouver Island. A variety of habitats are inhabited by the salamander, including temperate forests, rocky talus slopes, and riparian areas.

References
  1. Hammerson G (2004). Plethodon vehiculum. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 July 2007.


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