Olympic Torrent Salamander (Rhyacotriton olympicus)

Common Name: Olympic Torrent Salamander
Scientific Name: Rhyacotriton olympicus
Family: Rhyacotritonidae – Torrent Salamander family
Location: United States – Washington
Size: 1.6 – 2.4 inches (4.1 – 6.2 cm)

The Olympic Torrent Salamander is a federally threatened salamander found only in cold, mountain streams in Washington State. They are listed as Near Threatened with Extinction by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Its small, fragmented habitat is the cause of its threatened status. This habitat is threatened by the logging industry.

The breeding season takes place during the spring and early summer for the species. The male salamanders may try a tail wagging display towards the female salamanders to attract them. The female salamanders lay between 2 to 16 eggs. Once the eggs hatch, it may take the larvae up to three years to complete metamorphosis.