26 / OutdoorIllinois October 2007

HellbendersHellbendersHellbendersStory By Chris Phillips

The largest salamander inNorth America, the hellben-der, is known in Illinois onlyfrom a few streams in thesouthern portion of the state.Degradation of these habi-tats, especially dredging and

channelization, has resulted in the near-extirpation of the hellbender (Crypto-branchus alleganiensis) from Illinois.

Hellbenders, sometimes referred toas a waterdog or mudpuppy, are entirelyaquatic and prefer fast-flowing, clearstreams with abundant rocks, whichthey use for cover. Adults can reachlengths in excess of 20 inches. All veri-fied records in Illinois are from theWabash and Ohio rivers and a few tribu-taries. The most recent specimen wastaken by a commercial fisherman in theWabash River, near Maunie, in 1990.Other Illinois records include Skillet ForkCreek, the Cache River and the OhioRiver proper. Small, remnant popula-

tions may still inhabit the Wabash Riverjust upstream of the confluence with theLittle Wabash River.

Surveying for hellbenders is typicallydone with mask and snorkel, which isdifficult in the Wabash River as the visi-bility is poor and the water is typicallydeep. An exception to these conditionsmay occur at the Grand Chain Rapids,just downstream of Maunie. Consider-ing this is the location of the mostrecent observation of the hellbender inIllinois, it is the highest priority forfuture surveys.

October 2007 OutdoorIllinois / 27

Hellbenders are most often confusedwith another large aquatic salamander,the mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus).Distinguishing between the two speciesis straightforward as the mudpuppy hasexternal gills throughout its life. In addi-tion, hellbenders have numerous foldsof skin on the sides of the body and are

generally much larger than mudpuppies.Hellbenders respire directly throughtheir skin, which requires that the watersthey live in be highly oxygenated. Thebody folds facilitate respiration byincreasing the surface area for gasexchange. Sluggish current and siltationreduce the amount of oxygen that isavailable for uptake by hellbenders, andlimit their distribution.

The diet of hellbenders consists ofcrayfish, fish and invertebrates such ashelgramites (Dobsonfly larvae). Repro-duction is similar to most fish in that fer-tilization is external (sperm and eggs aremixed in the water). Courtship andbreeding, which occur in late summerand early autumn, usually take placeunder large, flat rocks. Male hellbendersguard the eggs, which may numbermore than 200 from a single female.Newly hatched hellbenders are about 1inch long and have external gills untilabout 2 years of age.

The hellbender is native to theOzarks of Missouri and Arkansas, theAppalachian Mountains, and tributariesof the Ohio River from New York to Illi-nois. In areas where hellbenders aremore abundant, they often are encoun-tered by fisherman, especially on trotlines. Historically, some anglers havekilled hellbenders as they mistakenlybelieved this salamander is venomousand that they reduce game fish popula-tions by eating their eggs. Although hell-benders may bite if provoked, they arenot venomous and there is no evidencethat they have a negative impact onlocal game fish populations.

Hellbenders receive protection inalmost all states in which they occur.Declines in abundance have been docu-mented in several states, including Mis-souri and Arkansas.

If hellbenders are eventually docu-mented in the Wabash River, it willrequire cooperation between Illinois andIndiana to conserve this magnificentamphibian. Hellbender surveys involvingbiolgoists from both states could beginnext year.

Seventeen years have passed since

the last confirmed sighting of a

hellbender in Illinois.

As hellbenders mature, juveniles

(below) lose their dark coloration

and take on the mottled appear-

ance of an adult (above).

(Photocourtesy

MikeKnoerr.)

(Photocourtesy

MissouriD

epartmentofC

onservation.)

(Photocourtesy

MissouriD

epartmentofC

onservation.)