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 | |
 | |
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
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