Blue Spotted or Jefferson salamander

[paulamcdonough]

I found 2 of these salamanders under a rotting log while searching for “bugs and worms” with my little grandson. I am having difficulty trying to figure out what type they are. Can anyone help?

 

[stanleyc]

which state did you find these in? They look more like some species of Batrachoseps to me.

 

[paulamcdonough]

which state did you find these in? They look more like some species of Batrachoseps to me.

Massachusetts

 

[frank beard]

Redback salamanders (Plethodon cinereus)

 

[paulamcdonough]

Redback salamanders (Plethodon cinereus)

Definitely not. I found a couple of those, too. If you look closely, you can see the blue spots

 

[frank beard]

I am 100% certain those are P. cinereus. P. cinereus often has those spots and the spots can be present in both the striped and unstriped morph. The body proportions are those of Plethodon not Ambystoma. The head shape is Plethodon and not Ambystoma. If you looked at the venter you would see that salamander has the salt & pepper pigmentation of P. cinereus and not the uniform dark or slate color of the two Ambystoma species you inquired about.

 

[paulamcdonough]

I am 100% certain those are P. cinereus. P. cinereus often has those spots and the spots can be present in both the striped and unstriped morph. The body proportions are those of Plethodon not Ambystoma. The head shape is Plethodon and not Ambystoma. If you looked at the venter you would see that salamander has the salt & pepper pigmentation of P. cinereus and not the uniform dark or slate color of the two Ambystoma species you inquired about.

Ok, thank you for your help!

 

[paulamcdonough]

Ok, thank you for your help!

I looked up the juvenile red backed and they are exactly what I saw. Tricky little salamanders!

 

[frank beard]

Ok, thank you for your help!

No problem, and yes salamanders can be tricky to ID. I've spent much of my career on that exact problem!