Eastern Hellbender
(Cryptobranchus
alleganiensis alleganiensis) |
 |
DESCRIPTION: North America's largest
salamanders (the largest in terms of body mass), reaching
lengths of up to 22 inches or more. Its large size, flattened
body and wrinkles of loose skin make this salamander easy to
identify. It has small dark spots on its back and sides and a
uniformly colored chin, and is also entirely aquatic and
transformation from larva to adult (metamorphosis) is incomplete
with adults lacking eyelids and retaining one pair of gill
slits.
RANGE: Eastern Alleghenies to the
Ozarks.
HABITAT: They live almost exclusively in
rivers and streams that are not polluted, hiding by day under
rocks and in crevices and foraging by night.
SPECIAL HABITAT: They prefer streams with fast
moving water and relatively constant temperatures. Breeding
occurs in late summer or early fall.
FOOD: They eat all sorts of
invertebrates and even small fish |
