The cascade torrent salamander occurs in the Cascade Mountains of southern Washington and northern Oregon. In Washington, it occurs from the Columbia River Gorge to just north of Mt. St. Helens. During rainy seasons, they are occasionally found on land away from streams. Cool Biology Facts. All torrent salamanders have a larval stage with tiny external gills, but lose the gills at metamorphosis.
Adults have very reduced lungs and breathe mostly through their skin.
These salamanders live and breed in clear, cold, fast-flowing streams with rock or gravel bottoms. They can be very common in appropriate habitats. However, they are extremely sensitive to stream siltation and warming caused by excessive logging and other human activities. Photograph by Brad Moon.