Description: Red-legged salamanders tend to be somewhere between 85 to 185mm in length and are characterized by their slate-grey to bluish-black bodies and red coloration on their dorsal side of their legs. In the Unicoi Mountains it rarely has red coloration on the legs, but has lateral white spotting. Sexually active males have obvious, rounded mental glands. Young juveniles may have paired red spots running along the back.

Habitat: The red-legged salamanders make their habitats in cool, moderately humid forests in areas of high elevation, such as the Unicoi and Nantahala mountains as well as the southern Appalachians. This species shelters under logs or rocks by day, and forages on the forest floor at night.

Range: While the species is mainly concentrated in North Carolina, they are also found in northern Georgia and southeast Tennessee.

Found in these States: GA | NC | TN

Diet: The red-legged salamander is a nocturnal forager that consumes a wide variety of small invertebrates found on the forest floor.

Reproduction: It is a terrestrial breeder.

Status: Listed as Near Threatened because the continued survival of this species is dependent on the protection and management of its habitat provided by Nantahala National Forest. Without this level of protection, it is very likely that the species’ habitat would be degraded and fragmented resulting in significant population declines, which would warrant an immediate uplisting.

Taxonomy: