The southern torrent salamander (''Rhyacotriton variegatus'') is a member of the

salamander Salamanders are a group of amphibians typically characterized by their lizard-like appearance, with slender bodies, blunt snouts, short limbs projecting at right angles to the body, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults. All ten ...

family Rhyacotritonidae. This species of torrent salamander is found the farthest south in the region. It is a small salamander

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found els ...

to the Pacific Northwest from Northern California to Northern Oregon. It is one of four species of ''Rhyacotriton'', along with '' R. cascadae'', '' R. kezeri'' and '' R. olympicus''. All species of Rhyacotriton are small, with their body lengths being less than 5 inches. The species reproduces annually, with an extended courtship and egg-laying period. The time it takes from oviposition to reach

sexual maturity Sexual maturity is the capability of an organism to reproduce. In humans it might be considered synonymous with adulthood, but here puberty is the name for the process of biological sexual maturation, while adulthood is based on cultural definit ...

ranges from five to eight years, making the generation interval rather long. The larval stage, from hatching to metamorphosis, lasts 2.0-2.5 yr, with females requiring another 1.5–2.0 yr until they can first breed. They reach sexual maturity 1.0-1.5 yr after metamorphosis which occurs between 4.5 and 5.0 yr. This species feeds on small insects and spiders. Although it is found over a large area, it is not a migratory creature. It is preyed on by Pacific giant salamanders and garter snakes.

Identification

The species in the genus ''Rhyacotriton'' are all similar in morphology, but have high genetic diversity. ''R. variegatus'' lives in aquatic environments from egg through metamorphic stages. Through adulthood individuals live on the waters edge among pebbles and rocks. ''R. variegatus'' has the lowest desiccation tolerance of all North American salamanders, meaning they cannot easily withstand “extreme” temperatures and low moisture levels. The habitats preferred by ''R. variegatus'' are cool, shallow, high in oxygen, and slow-flowing, such as seeps and mountain brooks, with coarse, gravel-like beds. These water sources are found mostly in forests, which is where ''R. variegatus'' is most often found. All species of ''Rhyacotriton'' have aquatic eggs and larvae, and adults are semi-aquatic. ''R. variegatus'' adults can venture away from the stream, but they prefer the water, only coming out when the moisture level of the ground is high enough. Adults and juveniles are subject to moisture loss as well as heat shock.

General description and taxonomy

The southern torrent salamanders are small salamanders; mature adults measure from 1.5–2.4 inches snout to vent. On their dorsal sides, they are brown with darker spots. Their ventral sides are more yellow, with the same spots as the dorsal sides. The colors vary by shades; the dorsal sides range from dark olive to a dark brown. Their eyes face forwards and are large and dark, and metallic flecks surround the eyes. Males are distinguished from the females by their square cloacal lobes. Lungs of the adults are also reduced in appearance. Their bodies are slender, with long tails about the same length as their torsos. They have four legs, set in pairs – two close to the head, and two near the base of the tail. At the base of the leg, they have four toes used to grip and climb. Generally, they have blunt noses and protruding eyes.

Geographic distribution

The genus ''Rhyacotriton'' is found in the Pacific Northwest, extending from Northern California to the Olympic Peninsula. ''R. variegatus'' is endemic to the southernmost part of the range, extending from California to Oregon. Populations of ''R. variegatus'' are found in forests of the coastal regions of the states. Some ''Rhyacotriton'' species are found more inland, but they are still relatively close to the coast; these are mainly populations of ''R. kezeri''. The areas with populations of ''R. variegatus'' are forests with fresh water sources that meet all of their habitat requirements. Although most of the population is in one continuous range, a smaller population separated from the main range is found in southwest Oregon. Though it is disconnected from the range, it is still close to the coastline.

Ecology

''R. variegatus'' occurs in coastal

coniferous forest Conifers are a group of cone-bearing seed plants, a subset of gymnosperms. Scientifically, they make up the division Pinophyta (), also known as Coniferophyta () or Coniferae. The division contains a single extant class, Pinopsida. All ex ...

s in California and Oregon. Older forests are more likely to maintain a population of southern torrent salamanders. These forests have >80% canopy coverage due to sizeable trees, as well as large amounts of moss. Some younger forests have the proper habitat to keep a population, but it is unusual to see a population living in a young forest. Reproduction occurs in the water, where the fertilized eggs are laid and abandoned. Mating occurs after an extended courtship, and is followed by a long egg-laying process. The eggs take quite some time to hatch, and the whole larval stage lasts about 2.0-2.5 yr. Usually, the female lays one egg at a time, but occasionally clutches of eight to 11 eggs are found.

Conservation

Efforts have been made to conserve this species. After being assessed, it was placed in the “Least Concern” category, meaning there is no immediate threat to the survival of the species, and it has a wide distribution with an assumed large population. Though there is no immediate threat to the southern torrent salamander, urbanization is beginning to encroach on its habitat. Direct effects from logging and disturbing forests with the building of roads and other man-made features are limiting the habitable areas for these salamanders. Other indirect effects from urbanization are those that are affecting the temperature of the environment. ''R. variegatus'' is extremely sensitive to temperature fluctuations, having a very narrow range of temperatures in which it can thrive. The salamanders will begin to show temperature stress at about 63 °F. If the temperature of mountain streams and brooks rises over the next few years, the species will either have to adapt or succumb to the warm temperature. In California, ''R. variegatus'' is a Species of Special Concern. The composition of the ground in the habitat is also quite important. If the texture of the components is too fine, then the environment would not be ideal. ''R. variegatus'' needs large, pebble-like particles to be able to hide and avoid predators. Many concerned people still petition to place ''R. variegatus'' in a more at-risk category because of the previously unregulated logging that altered the population. The species will remain at least concern status until the populations become more threatened.

References

External links

* {{Taxonbar, from=Q2116864 Amphibians of the United States Rhyacotriton Amphibians described in 1951 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot