Agonistic Behavior of the Red-Backed Salamander

The red-backed salamander, Plethodon cinereus, has a small repertoire of visual displays used during territorial contests. All of trunk raised (ATR) off of the substrate and looking toward (LT) the opponent are threat displays while lying flattened (FLAT) on the substrate and looking away (LA) from the opponent serve as submissive displays. Both combatants are almost always in an ATR posture prior to a biting attack, but usually only the winner of the contest maintains ATR and LT postures after the attack; the salamander losing the contest usually remains in FLAT and LA postures. Males are more aggressive toward other males than toward females, but females make no such distinction. Tapping the nasolabial cirri to fecal pellets seems to be a mechanism for monitoring the identity of the opponent. Touching the chin and cloacal areas to the substrate appear to be methods of pheromonal marking.