Ozark hellbender

The Ozark hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi) is a subspecies of salamander found in the Black River system of Arkansas and Missouri. These large, aquatic salamanders are typically brownish-gray with black spots, though the Ozark variety tends to have larger blotches. Adults can grow up to 74 cm (29 inches) long, with stout bodies, flat heads, and broad tails.12

They possess wrinkled, fleshy folds along their bodies and legs that increase surface area for respiration through their skin, which is their primary method of oxygen intake. Hellbenders are nocturnal, emerging at night to feed on crayfish, small fish, and worms. They reproduce in late summer, with external fertilization and the male guarding the eggs until they hatch.1