Torrent salamander

Torrent salamanders
Rhyacotriton variegatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Caudata
Suborder:	Salamandroidea
Family:	Rhyacotritonidae
Genus:	Rhyacotriton
Species
Rhyacotriton cascadae  Rhyacotriton kezeri  Rhyacotriton olympicus  Rhyacotriton variegatus

The torrent salamanders or Cascade salamanders are a family (Rhyacotritonidae) with only one genus (Rhyacotriton) of salamanders. Originally the genus Rhyacotriton was placed in the family Ambystomatidae, later in the family Dicamptodontidae, and finally in 1992 it was placed into a family of its own. At the same time the only species Rhyacotriton olympicus was split into four species due to genetic analysis. The torrent salamanders are limited to the western USA, namely the states California, Oregon, and Washington.

The genus Rhyacotriton is divided into four species:

• Cascade torrent salamander (R. cascadae)
• Columbia torrent salamander (R. kezeri)
• Olympic torrent salamander (R. olympicus)
• Southern torrent salamander (R. variegatus)

External links

Data related to Rhyacotritonidae at Wikispecies

• Tree of Life: Rhyacotritonidae