Meet the Eastern Red-backed Salamander, a little ecological hero | Smithsonian Voices

Proper and durable, the Eastern red-backed salamander is an unassuming creature that plays an essential role in maintaining the health and stability of forested habitats in northeastern North America. Learn about these little ecological powerhouses before you visit them at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo.

Eastern red-backed salamanders are the most common salamanders in the Eastern and Appalachian regions of the United States—and in a healthy forest ecosystem, they are often more abundant than any other vertebrate species.

Shockingly, these tiny animals are so abundant that in a healthy landscape their total biomass is generally greater than the combined weight of all the other animals living in the same area (except insects and other invertebrates.) A recent study estimated a healthy forest area. the size of a football field can contain somewhere around 5,300 red-backed salamanders, each with their own tiny territory.

2. However, they spend most of their lives without sight.

Eastern redbacks spend most of their lives underground, hiding in small holes and decaying root systems. While buried in the soil, these small predators tunnel through the earth, pushing up the soil and preying on soil invertebrates. This tunneling activity has a dual role in designing micro-habitats that keep nutrients circulating through the soil.

While above ground, these secretive salamanders prefer to remain hidden among the leaf litter that covers the forest floor. Despite their small stature, their voracious appetites make them top leaf litter predators of insects, worms and other invertebrates.

3. They have no lungs.

Like two-thirds of salamander species, Eastern red-backed salamanders evolved without the use of lungs—instead, they breathe through pores on their skin in a process called cutaneous respiration. Their pores must remain moist for the animals to absorb oxygen.

Because of these traits, red-backed salamanders are usually seen above ground on cool, rainy nights when there is a lot of moisture in the air.

4. They are hidden heroes for the environment.

Naturalists have long been aware of the connection between eastern red salamander populations and thriving forest ecosystems. Salamanders are often referred to as “indicator species,” meaning that their presence—or absence—signals the health of their environment.

Salamanders like the Eastern redback are critical nodes in the forest’s food web—they keep insect populations in check and, in turn, are preyed upon by larger animals. This role helps them stabilize populations both up and down, ensuring that no one species ends up dominating the forested ecosystem.

5. Not all Eastern red-backed salamanders have red stripes on their backs.

These creatures come in many varieties and shapes of different colors, making them a polymorphic species. One of the most common color forms turns salamanders completely dark gray (or “leadback”) instead of red and brown (“redback”).

6. They appear to be more hardy than many of their salamander cousins.

Eastern redbacks can be found in suburban backyards, urban parks, and other habitats that have been altered by human activity. However, their porous skin can easily absorb toxins and other environmental pollutants, so you won’t find them in places where pesticides and herbicides are heavily used.

7. They are the official state amphibians of the District of Columbia.

In 2024, a group of elementary school students testified before the city council that the Eastern red-backed salamander should be recognized as the official amphibian of Washington, DC. The students argued that declaring the animal “official” is important for raising awareness of these small predators and the threats they face in the wild. The proposal became a bill and it was signed by Mayor Muriel Bowser on October 28.

8. Populations of many amphibian species are in decline, but Smithsonian scientists are working to save them.

Due primarily to human activity, even common amphibian species such as the Eastern red-backed salamander may suffer massive die-offs in the next few decades. Logging, urban sprawl, and soil contamination disrupt salamander habitats, while rising temperatures and changing precipitation patterns challenge the animals’ moisture-dependent lifestyles.

No two species face the same threats to their survival. That’s why Smithsonian scientists research species-specific conservation strategies to protect wildlife and their habitats. Learn about them salamander rescue efforts— and what you can do to help — during your next trip to the zoo Reptile Discovery Center or Amazonia exhibits.