Females may lay eggs until several months after courting and are capable of storing sperm for a long period of time. The females lay their eggs in cryptic locations during autumn in springs, brooks, and under streambanks. The eggs are attached to the underside of rocks by a single gelatinous stalk and are often submerged in the water. On average the female will lay between 30 - 130 eggs. The eggs hatch in early winter and there is a larval stage lasting between two and three years.
Metamorphosis takes place during the summer months.
Behavior The major natural predators of the Red Salamander include woodland birds, skunks, and raccoons. When approached the salamander assumes a defensive posture in which it curls its body while elevating and extending its rear limbs. It then places its head in a protective position below its undulating and elevated tail. Secretions of the cutaneous poison glands are presumably toxic or repellent to certain predators. Habitat The Red Salamander can be found in terrestrial or aquatic environments, but are aquatic in winter.