Plethodon cinereus (Eastern Red-backed Salamander) exhibits 3 distinct color morphs across eastern North America. The ecology of the least-common phenotype (i.e., erythristic morph) is largely unknown and no study has tested for ecological differences between sympatric erythristic and striped morphs. In this study, we compared dietary contents of striped and erythristic P. cinereus. We identified 553 prey items from 12 prey groups. Mean number and volume of prey per stomach did not differ between the 2 morphs. Important prey types were similar for both morphs and included Acari, formicids, Collembola, Diptera larvae, and adult Coleoptera. Additional studies regarding erythristic P. cinereus ecology will provide a better understanding of the role of this morph in natural populations.
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1 June 2016
Comparison of the Diets of Sympatric Erythristic and Striped Morphs of Plethodon cinereus (Eastern Red-backed Salamander)
Maggie M. Hantak,
Daniel J. Paluh,
Cari-Ann M. Hickerson
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Northeastern Naturalist
Vol. 23 • No. 2
June 2016
Vol. 23 • No. 2
June 2016