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Comparative salamander climbing videos

Huie, Jonathan12; Kawano, Sandy134

Published May 19, 2026 on Dryad. https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.0000000ht

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Abstract

Hundreds of plethodontid salamander species can climb vertical structures, despite lacking morphological adaptations typically found in other climbing tetrapods. To compensate, salamanders likely rely more on behavioral modifications to mediate the relationship between their generalist morphologies and climbing performance. Here, we examined four plethodontid species (Aneides aeneus, Aneides lugubris, Aneides hardii, and Plethodon glutinosus) that differ in their habitat preferences, climbing tendencies, and limb morphologies. Using 3D high-speed videography, we compared how these species adjust their gait and limb kinematics while traversing a flat surface inclined at 0°, 45°, 80°, and 90°. Here, we present representative videos of one individual per species moving each of the four inclines.