The southern torrent salamander (Rhyacotriton variegatus) inhabits small, cool, headwater streams and seeps in conifer-dominated forests, primarily in the Coast Ranges of Oregon and northern California. Research in the Oregon Coast Range suggests that maintaining forested habitat >46 m around these streams is important if the protection of habitat for this and other headwater-associated amphibians is a conservation priority. This photograph originally appeared on the cover of Ecological Applications (15:4) in June of 2005.