First report of Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) on Newfoundland

• Published in: The Canadian Field-Naturalist
• Main Authors: Baxter-Gilbert, James, King, Lorne, Riley, Julia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: The Ottawa Field-Naturalists' Club 2022
• Subjects: Caudata; introduced species; invasion biology; island biology; new distribution record; non-native; Plethodontidae; Newfoundland
• Online Access: https://www.canadianfieldnaturalist.ca/index.php/cfn/article/view/2811; https://doi.org/10.22621/cfn.v136i1.2811

The island of Newfoundland has no native amphibian taxa, although six species of Anura (i.e., frogs and toads) have been introduced since European colonisation, four of which have established self-sustaining populations. Here, we document Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus) on Newfoundland for the first time, in what appears to be a self-sustaining population near Conception Bay South. This is the first species of Caudata (i.e., newts and salamanders) to have been introduced to the island, as well as the first occurrence of Eastern Red-backed Salamander establishing a population outside its native range. The impact that this non-native species might have on forest ecosystems on Newfoundland is unclear and further study is required to determine whether eradication of the species from Newfoundland is necessary or feasible.