A beautiful and somewhat mysterious amphibian native to the southern Appalachian Mountains, primarily found in North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. This terrestrial, lungless salamander spends its life in the cool, moist forests of mountainous regions, where it hides under logs, rocks, and leaf litter during the day and comes out at night or after rain to forage.

One of the most eye-catching features of the red-legged salamander is, unsurprisingly, its bright reddish or pinkish limbs, which stand out sharply against its otherwise slate gray to black body. This bold color contrast not only makes it recognizable but may also serve as a visual signal to deter predators. The salamander’s skin is smooth and moist, and its long tail makes up about half of its total length. Its head is broad with large, black eyes — perfect for life in dimly lit, forested environments.

This salamander is a nocturnal predator, feeding mostly on small invertebrates such as beetles, ants, springtails, spiders, and worms. It uses its sticky tongue to catch prey and relies heavily on stealth and camouflage to avoid becoming prey itself. Unlike many other amphibians, the red-legged salamander is entirely terrestrial, even during breeding — there is no aquatic larval stage. Instead, eggs are laid in moist soil or under logs, and the young hatch as miniature versions of adults, fully formed and ready to fend for themselves.

Red-legged salamanders are territorial and will defend their home range, especially during the breeding season. They use chemical cues in their skin and droppings to mark their space and may engage in subtle confrontations with other salamanders that get too close. Another fascinating detail — these salamanders are known to be long-lived, potentially surviving for over 10 years in the wild, which is impressive for such a small creature.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

United States

NT

2021

Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee