Torrent salamander
Encyclopedia
The torrent salamanders or Cascade salamanders are a family
(Rhyacotritonidae) with only one genus
(Rhyacotriton) of salamander
s. 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 is divided into four species
Family (biology)
In biological classification, family is* a taxonomic rank. Other well-known ranks are life, domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, genus, and species, with family fitting between order and genus. As for the other well-known ranks, there is the option of an immediately lower rank, indicated by the...
(Rhyacotritonidae) with only one genus
Monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group with only one biological type. The term's usage differs slightly between botany and zoology. The term monotypic has a separate use in conservation biology, monotypic habitat, regarding species habitat conversion eliminating biodiversity and...
(Rhyacotriton) of salamander
Salamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
s. Originally the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
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
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, and Washington.
The genus is divided into four species
- Cascade Torrent SalamanderCascade Torrent SalamanderThe Cascade Torrent Salamander is a species of salamander in the Rhyacotritonidae family.It is endemic to the United States.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, and freshwater springs....
(Rhyacotriton cascadae) - Columbia Torrent SalamanderColumbia Torrent SalamanderThe Columbia Torrent Salamander is a species of salamander in the Rhyacotritonidae family.It is endemic to the United States.Its natural habitats are temperate forests, rivers, and freshwater springs...
(Rhyacotriton kezeri) - Olympic Torrent SalamanderOlympic Torrent SalamanderThe Olympic Torrent Salamander is a species of salamander in the Rhyacotritonidae family. It is a small salamander that lives in clear, cold mountain streams.It is endemic to the United States...
(Rhyacotriton olympicus) - Southern Torrent SalamanderSouthern Torrent SalamanderThe Southern Torrent Salamander is a member of the Rhyacotriton family of salamanders. R. variegatus has the common name Southern Torrent Salamander for it is the species of Torrent Salamander found the furthest south in the region. It is a small salamander endemic to the Pacific Northwest from...
(Rhyacotriton variegatus)