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 forests 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,