Description: A large (13-34"), wrinkly skinned, completely aquatic salamander. Body is flattened dorso-ventrally, with fleshy folds of skin on sides. Ground color is usually brown, but sometimes green, red, or yellow. Eyes small. Gill slits present, but no external gills in adults.

Distribution in Ohio: Appropriate habitat in the Ohio River drainage.

Status in Ohio: The Ohio Division of Wildlife lists the Hellbender as ENDANGERED.

Habitat: Hellbenders live in medium to large, swift flowing, rocky streams. They are most commonly encountered under large rocks within or adjacent to areas of rapids.

Life history: Breeding occurs in September. Males guide females into nests they have excavated under rocks or logs. Several females may lay eggs in a single male's nest, where they are externally fertilized. Hatching occurs two months later. Aquatic gilled larvae go through a partial metamorphosis 1.5-2 years later, loosing their gills. Sexual maturity is reached at 5-8 years, and longevity is suspected to be 25-30 years.

Conservation: Threats to Hellbenders include pollution and degradation of stream habitat, removal of rocks, stream channelization and damming, and intentional killing and collection. Few juvenile hellbenders have been found in Ohio, raising concerns about recruitment of new individuals into aging populations.

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