Southern red-backed salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southern red-backed salamander |
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The southern red-backed salamander (Plethodon serratus) is a special type of salamander. It lives only in the United States. This salamander is found in four separate areas. These areas are in central Louisiana, the Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas and Oklahoma, central Missouri, and a region from southeastern Tennessee to eastern Alabama.
People sometimes call it the Georgia red-backed salamander or the Ouachita red-backed salamander. It used to be thought of as a type of red-backed salamander, but now it is its own unique species.
What Does It Look Like?
The southern red-backed salamander usually has a gray or black body. It has a reddish-brown stripe that goes down its back. This stripe can sometimes fade.
These salamanders are not very big. They grow to be about 8 to 11 centimeters (3 to 4 inches) long. That's about the length of a small pencil!
How Does It Live?
This salamander is mostly nocturnal. This means it is active at night. During the day, it rests and hides. You can often find it under things like fallen leaves or logs. It likes places that are moist and have lots of trees.
When the weather gets dry, these salamanders move closer to water. This helps them stay hydrated. Their main food is small arthropods, like insects. They also eat mollusks, such as tiny snails.
