Torrent salamander

Taxobox
name = Torrent Salamanders

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image_width = 240px
image_caption = "Rhyacotriton variegatus"
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Amphibia
ordo = Caudata
familia = " Rhyacotritonidae"
genus = "Rhyacotriton"
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "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 is divided into four species
*Cascade Torrent Salamander ("Rhyacotriton cascadae")
*Columbia Torrent Salamander ("Rhyacotriton kezeri")
*Olympic Torrent Salamander ("Rhyacotriton olympicus")
*Southern Torrent Salamander ("Rhyacotriton variegatus")

External Links

* [http://tolweb.org/Rhyacotritonidae/15450 Tree of Life: Rhyacotritonidae]