The Red-backed Salamander

Though the Red-backed Salamander is seldom seen,

The Red-backed Salamander, photo taken from Amphibians

they live almost anywhere. In fact, they often outnumber all the birds in the forest. They are rarely seen because they cannot survive without the moisture of damp dirt, so they must bury themselves beneath moss, rocks, bark, and other debris. They cannot breath without the dampness provided by the earth because they have no lungs, and to breathe they instead absorb oxygen through their pores. However they will come out of their hiding places during rainy nights to breed, because with the help of the rain they can stay moist enough to survive. Unlike most other creatures, this salamander is completely mute, which is unusual, because most animals have a call or some sort of communication resource. However, the salamander appears to have none. They can be found underneath objects such as rocks and logs in damp areas of forests, fields, and meadows.