Morphology

     The family Rhyacotritonidae was split into four species based on variation among proteins between populations (Good and Wake 1992. There are four currently recognized species within the Rhyacotritonidae, R. cascadae, R. kezeri, R. olympicus, and R. variegatus, with R. variegatus being the only species that makes it into California. Torrent salamanders are distinctive in their small size (1 2/3 –3 1/2 in. [4.2-6.3 cm] snout-vent length) and large eyes. Members of the genus Rhyacotriton have 14-15 costal costal grooves, and males are easily recognized by their squarish vent lobes. R. Variegatus has a brownish to pale olive ground color above which is obscured by numerous spots, blotches, and reticulation of black to blackish brown. Amount of spotting can vary considerably within populations. Dark markings on sides grade into similar markings on venter. Below, generally greenish yellow commonly flecked and spotted with dark blotches of variable size. Northern populations may have reduced, finer grained, and less reticulate dark spotting, and more orange in ventral coloration. Adults have greatly reduced lungs, probably related to buoyancy problems and to the cold, oxygen-rich waters occupied. Larvae are of the stream type, having very short lungs and adult proportions (Stebbins 2003).

Adult Southern Torrent Salamander (Rhyacotriton variegatus) Photo courtesy of Gary Nafis.	Larval Cascade Torrent Salamander (Rhyacotriton cascadae) Photo courtesy of William Flaxington.