Food. Springtails, spiders, small flics, hcmiptera and beetles. 



These salamanders are so small and retiring that few people real- 

 ize that thev exist. Although interesting to the serious student, 

 their inactivity and insistence upon hiding would make them of 

 little interest were it not for the possibility of having them lay their 

 eggs in captivity. 



Although sluggish and retiring by nature, the Four-toed Sala- 

 mander sometimes squeaks when annoyed and can leap away 

 rapidly. 



When handling this species it is wise to remember that the tail 

 readily parts from the body at the constriction — an interesting 

 phenomenon. 





Red-Backed Salamander 

 (Pletbodoft cinereus) 



Appearance. This species too is small, being only a little larger 

 than the tiny Four-toed Salamander, but the more slenderly pro- 

 portioned body and prominent eyes give it a more active appear- 

 ance. Note that it has five toes on its hind feet, four on its fore feet. 



There are two color phases to be found in this species, often side 

 by side. A red-backed specimen has a wide stripe running from 

 the eyes more or less to the tip of the tail. The stripe may vary 

 from gray through yellow and pink to bright red. The sides next 

 to the central stripe are black or dark gray. This color fades mto 

 mottling near the belly. The belly is mottled gray and white, and 

 slightly pinkish at the throat. In the other color phase this sala- 

 mander is dark brown to black. The belly is mottled gray and 

 white, as in the other phase. 



The larva is about 20 mm. long at hatching, which occurs some- 



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