
Eastern Red-backed Salamander
Plethodon cinereus (Green, 1818)
Eastern Red-backed Salamander in all of Ohio- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Amphibia
- Order
- Caudata
- Family
- Plethodontidae
- Genus
- Plethodon
Range
Where it is recorded
Season shown in 6 of Ohio's 88 counties. Its mapped range covers 87. Explore Ohio
- No result yet (1)
- Within its mapped range (27)
- Recorded, too few records for a result (41)
- Recorded, season not shown (13)
- Season shown (6)
Counties as a table
| County | Records | In mapped range |
|---|---|---|
| Adams County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Allen County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Ashland County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Ashtabula County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Athens County | 71 · Season shown | Yes: year-round |
| Auglaize County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Belmont County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Brown County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Butler County | 87 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Carroll County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Champaign County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Clark County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Clermont County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Clinton County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Columbiana County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Coshocton County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Crawford County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Cuyahoga County | 362 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Darke County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Defiance County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Delaware County | 58 · Season shown | Yes: year-round |
| Erie County | 97 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Fairfield County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Fayette County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Franklin County | 107 · Season shown | Yes: year-round |
| Fulton County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Gallia County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Geauga County | 88 · Season shown | Yes: year-round |
| Greene County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Guernsey County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Hamilton County | 122 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Hancock County | 20 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Hardin County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Harrison County | No qualifying records yet | No |
| Henry County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Highland County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Hocking County | 109 · Season shown | Yes: year-round |
| Holmes County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Huron County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Jackson County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Jefferson County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Knox County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Lake County | 39 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Lawrence County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Licking County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Logan County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Lorain County | 21 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Lucas County | 41 · Season shown | Yes: year-round |
| Madison County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Mahoning County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Marion County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Medina County | 48 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Meigs County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Mercer County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Miami County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Monroe County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Montgomery County | 94 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Morgan County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Morrow County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Muskingum County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Noble County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Ottawa County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Paulding County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Perry County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Pickaway County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Pike County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Portage County | 108 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Preble County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Putnam County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Richland County | 31 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Ross County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Sandusky County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Scioto County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Seneca County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Shelby County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Stark County | 57 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Summit County | 279 · Recorded, season not shown | Yes: year-round |
| Trumbull County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Tuscarawas County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Union County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Van Wert County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Vinton County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Warren County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Washington County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Wayne County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Williams County | Recorded, too few records for a result | Yes: year-round |
| Wood County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
| Wyandot County | No qualifying records yet | Yes: year-round |
Season
When it is recorded
In Butler County
Not enough evidence
Records per week from 87 records in 8 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Shows when people recorded it, not a season or how common it is.
Show as a table
| Week | Records of Eastern Red-backed Salamander | Years recorded | Records of all species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 4–10 | 0 | 0 | 59 |
| Jan 11–17 | 1 | 1 | 104 |
| Jan 18–24 | 0 | 0 | 111 |
| Jan 25–31 | 0 | 0 | 54 |
| Feb 1–7 | 1 | 1 | 62 |
| Feb 8–14 | 0 | 0 | 59 |
| Feb 15–21 | 0 | 0 | 70 |
| Feb 22–28 | 7 | 3 | 117 |
| Mar 1–7 | 28 | 2 | 221 |
| Mar 8–14 | 0 | 0 | 224 |
| Mar 15–21 | 6 | 2 | 250 |
| Mar 22–28 | 2 | 2 | 250 |
| Mar 29 – Apr 4 | 2 | 2 | 464 |
| Apr 5–11 | 2 | 2 | 681 |
| Apr 12–18 | 3 | 2 | 911 |
| Apr 19–25 | 8 | 4 | 1,134 |
| Apr 26 – May 2 | 6 | 3 | 1,163 |
| May 3–9 | 2 | 2 | 1,117 |
| May 10–16 | 0 | 0 | 724 |
| May 17–23 | 0 | 0 | 681 |
| May 24–30 | 0 | 0 | 518 |
| May 31 – Jun 6 | 0 | 0 | 531 |
| Jun 7–13 | 0 | 0 | 605 |
| Jun 14–20 | 0 | 0 | 566 |
| Jun 21–27 | 0 | 0 | 545 |
| Jun 28 – Jul 4 | 0 | 0 | 622 |
| Jul 5–11 | 0 | 0 | 580 |
| Jul 12–18 | 0 | 0 | 658 |
| Jul 19–25 | 0 | 0 | 618 |
| Jul 26 – Aug 1 | 1 | 1 | 664 |
| Aug 2–8 | 0 | 0 | 710 |
| Aug 9–15 | 0 | 0 | 555 |
| Aug 16–22 | 0 | 0 | 856 |
| Aug 23–29 | 0 | 0 | 1,185 |
| Aug 30 – Sep 5 | 0 | 0 | 2,105 |
| Sep 6–12 | 0 | 0 | 2,341 |
| Sep 13–19 | 0 | 0 | 1,284 |
| Sep 20–26 | 0 | 0 | 1,693 |
| Sep 27 – Oct 3 | 0 | 0 | 1,744 |
| Oct 4–10 | 1 | 1 | 1,330 |
| Oct 11–17 | 1 | 1 | 1,154 |
| Oct 18–24 | 1 | 1 | 745 |
| Oct 25–31 | 1 | 1 | 955 |
| Nov 1–7 | 0 | 0 | 261 |
| Nov 8–14 | 0 | 0 | 265 |
| Nov 15–21 | 0 | 0 | 197 |
| Nov 22–28 | 11 | 1 | 187 |
| Nov 29 – Dec 5 | 0 | 0 | 103 |
| Dec 6–12 | 0 | 0 | 173 |
| Dec 13–19 | 0 | 0 | 84 |
| Dec 20–26 | 1 | 1 | 89 |
| Dec 27 – Jan 2 | 2 | 2 | 106 |
In Ohio
Early March to mid-June, middle week mid-April, and again early September to early December, middle week mid-October
Recorded in two separate seasons, each shown with its own early, middle and late weeks.
Records per week from 3,612 records in 10 of the 10 years from 2016 to 2025. Shows when people recorded it, not a season or how common it is.
Show as a table
| Week | Records of Eastern Red-backed Salamander | Years recorded | Records of all species |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 4–10 | 11 | 4 | 6,211 |
| Jan 11–17 | 2 | 1 | 5,146 |
| Jan 18–24 | 1 | 1 | 4,645 |
| Jan 25–31 | 8 | 3 | 4,698 |
| Feb 1–7 | 7 | 3 | 6,023 |
| Feb 8–14 | 13 | 4 | 5,888 |
| Feb 15–21 | 20 | 4 | 5,436 |
| Feb 22–28 | 16 | 7 | 6,846 |
| Mar 1–7 | 71 | 8 | 8,321 |
| Mar 8–14 | 90 | 8 | 10,384 |
| Mar 15–21 | 161 | 10 | 12,620 |
| Mar 22–28 | 165 | 10 | 13,949 |
| Mar 29 – Apr 4 | 191 | 10 | 19,661 |
| Apr 5–11 | 258 | 10 | 26,860 |
| Apr 12–18 | 257 | 10 | 39,925 |
| Apr 19–25 | 169 | 10 | 41,623 |
| Apr 26 – May 2 | 255 | 10 | 56,391 |
| May 3–9 | 128 | 9 | 52,952 |
| May 10–16 | 99 | 10 | 53,785 |
| May 17–23 | 82 | 9 | 57,698 |
| May 24–30 | 56 | 10 | 54,651 |
| May 31 – Jun 6 | 53 | 10 | 53,099 |
| Jun 7–13 | 36 | 9 | 53,700 |
| Jun 14–20 | 34 | 9 | 56,625 |
| Jun 21–27 | 18 | 5 | 55,361 |
| Jun 28 – Jul 4 | 12 | 5 | 58,477 |
| Jul 5–11 | 13 | 4 | 61,336 |
| Jul 12–18 | 8 | 5 | 64,722 |
| Jul 19–25 | 13 | 4 | 69,753 |
| Jul 26 – Aug 1 | 14 | 6 | 59,416 |
| Aug 2–8 | 7 | 4 | 59,712 |
| Aug 9–15 | 5 | 4 | 55,994 |
| Aug 16–22 | 8 | 2 | 54,328 |
| Aug 23–29 | 9 | 3 | 51,772 |
| Aug 30 – Sep 5 | 19 | 6 | 57,167 |
| Sep 6–12 | 37 | 9 | 59,075 |
| Sep 13–19 | 88 | 10 | 54,543 |
| Sep 20–26 | 98 | 10 | 45,860 |
| Sep 27 – Oct 3 | 92 | 10 | 43,180 |
| Oct 4–10 | 175 | 10 | 37,841 |
| Oct 11–17 | 256 | 10 | 30,824 |
| Oct 18–24 | 146 | 9 | 21,156 |
| Oct 25–31 | 124 | 10 | 19,021 |
| Nov 1–7 | 82 | 10 | 14,172 |
| Nov 8–14 | 65 | 8 | 12,621 |
| Nov 15–21 | 34 | 6 | 7,965 |
| Nov 22–28 | 32 | 7 | 8,136 |
| Nov 29 – Dec 5 | 10 | 7 | 6,083 |
| Dec 6–12 | 10 | 3 | 6,004 |
| Dec 13–19 | 15 | 6 | 5,423 |
| Dec 20–26 | 6 | 5 | 5,661 |
| Dec 27 – Jan 2 | 33 | 7 | 8,459 |
What these results show
These results show when people recorded a species, not when or where it occurs. Missing weeks and low counts do not mean absence or scarcity, and counts are not abundance. Contributed records reflect where, when and what people chose to observe.
Identification
How to identify it
Often confused with
- Northern Ravine Salamander Plethodon electromorphusOften confused in Ohio: 65 identifications in Ohio named one where the other was meant
- Northern Dusky Salamander Desmognathus fuscusOften confused in Ohio: 17 identifications in Ohio named one where the other was meant
- Northern Two-lined Salamander Eurycea bislineataOften confused in Ohio: 16 identifications in Ohio named one where the other was meant
- Allegheny Mountain Dusky Salamander Desmognathus ochrophaeusOften confused in Ohio: 15 identifications in Ohio named one where the other was meant
- Northern Slimy Salamander Plethodon glutinosusOften confused in Ohio: 11 identifications in Ohio named one where the other was meant
From iNaturalist’s similar-species counts, refreshed monthly: confusions in Ohio first, then worldwide. Only species with an Ohio result are listed.
Land cover where it is recorded
| Land cover | Its recordsAll Ohio records |
|---|---|
| Forest | 69%31% |
| Developed | 25%49% |
| Farmland | 3%11% |
| Wetland | 3%5% |
| Grassland and shrub | 0.5%0.9% |
| Barren | 0.3%0.6% |
| Open water | 0.1%3% |
From 1,510 records placed within 100 m, beside all Ohio records placed the same way. People record where they go, so this shows where records come from, not where the species lives. Land cover: USGS Annual NLCD, 2025 (opens in a new tab)
Sources
Where these results come from
- Records from iNaturalist research-grade observations and expert-identified GBIF datasets, CC0, CC BY and CC BY-NC. Sources
- Seasons use the published method and its evidence thresholds. Methods
- See it on iNaturalist (opens in a new tab)OpenPhenology is independent and not affiliated with iNaturalist.
Records behind the Ohio result
3,612 records from 2 datasets.
- iNaturalist Research-grade Observations (opens in a new tab) · iNaturalist.org · 3,605 recordsiNaturalist contributors, iNaturalist (2026). iNaturalist Research-grade Observations. iNaturalist.org. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/ab3s5x accessed via GBIF.org on 2026-11-13.
- iNaturalist observations (opens in a new tab) · iNaturalist.org · 7 recordsiNaturalist. Available from https://www.inaturalist.org. Accessed 2026-11-13
To cite: the GBIF download doi:10.15468/dl.y2jkt8 (opens in a new tab).
A spreadsheet (CSV) with a link to each record, on iNaturalist or GBIF. Records whose location was hidden by the observer or the source are counted but not linked.