The hellbender is a giant, flat-headed salamander of eastern North American streams. Rarely seen, it spends its life hidden under rocks and needs clean, cold water.
Interesting facts
- It is the largest salamander in North America.
- It needs cold, oxygen-rich streams, so it is a sign of healthy water.
- Local nicknames include ‘snot otter’ and ‘lasagna lizard’.
- Males guard the eggs under large rocks.
- It became Pennsylvania’s official state amphibian in 2019.
- Its closest relatives are the giant salamanders of China and Japan.
Behaviour
Hellbenders are nocturnal and solitary, hiding under large, flat rocks by day and ambushing crayfish at night.
Breeding and young
In late summer, males prepare nests under rocks, where females lay several hundred eggs. The male guards the eggs for months until they hatch.
Threats and conservation
Water pollution, siltation from farming and development, dams, disease and people moving rocks in streams.
Where to see it
- Streams of the Great Smoky Mountains (very rarely seen)
- Ozark rivers of Missouri and Arkansas
- St. Louis Zoo and Nashville Zoo breeding programmes
- Please leave rocks in streams where you find them
Status source: IUCN Red List. Profile last reviewed September 2026.
Great Smoky Mountains Synchronous Fireflies
