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Unknown salamader found in germany

svenh

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Hello,

my name is Sven and I'm from Germany.
A friend of mine found a little salamander in a delivery of plants, yesterday.
I think this is not a local species and maybe someone here knows the correct name of it.
Below a few pictures of the little guy for identification. Sven (sorry if my english isn't the best :blush: )
 

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Nathan050793

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It appears to be some species of Plethodontid. As Plethodontid species are not native to Germany, you are correct in that it is not local. Do you have any idea as to where the shipment of plants came from?
 

svenh

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Unfortunately, I have no idea where the shipment came from.
Could this salamander be a Plethodon cinereus or Eurycea spec.? Someone in a german forum mentioned that, but the pictures I found with Goolge look different.
 

Nathan050793

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Could this salamander be a Plethodon cinereus or Eurycea spec.? Someone in a german forum mentioned that, but the pictures I found with Goolge look different.

Although superficially it resembles Plethodon cinereus, I don't think that is what it is. Try this link, it lists every species in the Plethodontidae family and has pictures of many- http://www.caudata.org/cc/species/Plethodontidae.shtml

Hope this helps!:D
 

svenh

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Thanks :happy:

I've watched now all the different salamanders in your link and some look similar, but neither looks the same :(
But their look probably varys.
I hope its not a false if I keep him at a cool place and give him wet moss and a flat water dish in his terrarium, is it?

 

Nathan050793

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I hope its not a false if I keep him at a cool place and give him wet moss and a flat water dish in his terrarium, is it?

That sounds about right. The care requirements should be similar to those listed on the care sheets for some of the other Plethodontids in the link. If you use moss, avoid sphagnum moss, as its acidity can be unhealthy.

As for an appropriate ID, maybe someone else can give you a better idea of what it is. Good luck!:D
 

Nathan050793

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Why not P. cinereus, Nathan?

I wasn't convinced that it was P.cinereus, because of the shape of it's face. Also it looked rather large to me (although they can get big).

After seeing Jen's pictures, I can see how it probably is a P.cinereus.
 

Kaysie

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It does have a pretty big head, but I agree that it's probably a red-back. A nice species. Pretty common over here, but probably really cool in Europe.
 

svenh

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Thank you guys for helping me :happy:

It looks really like a Plethodon cinereus, but the red colour on the back of my salamander is very straight and the Plethodon cinereus ones is more uneven with red spots at the side. Maybe its a very close related species?
 

Jake

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It looks really like a Plethodon cinereus, but the red colour on the back of my salamander is very straight and the Plethodon cinereus ones is more uneven with red spots at the side. Maybe its a very close related species?

Plethedon cinereus can have quite a bit of variation in color from one individual to the next.
 
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