Dimorphism in the Red-backed Salamander, Plethodon Cinereus (Green) at Mountain Lake, Virginia

The small terrestrial salamander, Plethodon cinereus (Green),
poses many problems for the herpetologist. It is one of the most
abundant salamanders in the southern Appalachians, but certain aspects
of its life history have not been determined. Little is known about
its reproductive behavior or about the inheritance of the color phases.
Even less is known about the factors that influence the frequency of
these phases.