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Reptiles & Amphibians

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Western Red-backed Salamander - Plethodon vehiculum

(Cooper, 1860)





Alternate Name:

Western Redback Salamander


Related or Similar Northwest Salamanders:

Western Long-toed Salamander
Van Dyke's Salamander
Coeur D'alene Salamander
Dunn's Salamander
Larch Mountain Salamander
Del Norte Salamander



observation link



Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander
Adult, King County, Washington Adult, King County, Washington
Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander
  Adult, Lewis County, Washington  
Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander
  Adult, Lewis County, Washington  
Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander
  Adult, Lewis County, Washington  
Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander
  Adult, Lewis County, Washington  
Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander
  Adult, King County, Washington  
Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander
Adult, Pacific County, Washington Adult, Mason County, Washington Adult, Pacific County, Washington

The stripe on top of the tail of the Western Red-backed Salmander extends to the end of the tail, unlike the stripe on Dunn's Salamander.
Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander
Melanistic adult, Lewis County, Washington Tan adult, Lewis County, Washington
Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander
Red adult, Lewis County, Washington Yellow adult, Lewis County, Washington

All four of the Lewis County salamanders shown above were found at the same location in the Cascades mountains, along with other color types, illustrating how variable in appearance this species can be.

Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander Western Red-backed Salamander
This King County, Washington adult has unusual coloring with a broken line pattern on a dark back and most of the color on the tail. © Seth Erickson Tan adult, King County Washington
© Seth Erickson
Tan adult, King County Washington
© Seth Erickson
Western Red-backed Salamander Van Dyke's Salamander Van Dyke's Salamander
Adult, Pierce County, Washington Comparison of sympatric species:
Reddish phase Plethodon vehiculum - Western Red-backed Salamander (top).
Dark phase Plethodon vandykei, Van Dyke's Salamander (bottom).
Both were found at the same locality in the Cascade Mountains, Lewis County, Washington.
 
Habitat
Western Red-backed Salamander habitat Western Red-backed Salamander habitat Western Red-backed Salamander habitat
Habitat, Lewis County, Washington Habitat, King County, Washington Habitat, Pierce County, Washington
  Western Red-backed Salamander habitat  
  Habitat, Pacific County, Washington  
     
Short Video
  Western Red-backed Salamander  
  Western Red-backed Salamanders are discovered under rocks below a waterfall.  
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