
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis: This is mostly a picture of me (I hope to have a few better pix of the hellbender within a few weeks), but the beast in my hands is one of the largest North American salamanders, beaten only by the ditch-dwelling Amphiuma, a nifty creature in its own right [one, however, that can be readily found in Louisiana, unlike C. alleganiensis]. During the annual meeting of the professional herp societies, I had the opportunity to take a field trip and hunt for hellbenders [the colloquial name for these great beasties]. We tried two sites and came up with nothing. The third time really is the charm, though; at this particular part of Kettle Creek in Pennsylvania, we came up with 12 Cryptobranchus. There were seven of us out there, five from SLU and two Australians. We were some happy herpetologists that evening! {Photo credit: Maria Kelly-Smith}
©1999 Brian R. Warren