Outdoorillinois October 2007 Hellbenders

HHHeee llllllbbb eeennndddeee rsrsrs Story By Chris Phillips Hellbenders, sometimes referred to tions may still inhabit the Wabash River as a waterdog or mudpuppy, are entirely just upstream of the confluence with the he largest salamander in aquatic and prefer fast-flowing, clear Little Wabash River. North America, the hellben - streams with abundant rocks, which Surveying for hellbenders is typically der, is known in Illinois only they use for cover. Adults can reach done with mask and snorkel, which is from a few streams in the lengths in excess of 20 inches. All veri - difficult in the Wabash River as the visi - southern portion of the state. fied records in Illinois are from the bility is poor and the water is typically Degradation of these habi - Wabash and Ohio rivers and a few tribu - deep. An exception to these conditions tats, especially dredging and taries. The most recent specimen was may occur at the Grand Chain Rapids, Tchannelization, has resulted in the near- taken by a commercial fisherman in the just downstream of Maunie. Consider - extirpation of the hellbender ( Crypto - Wabash River, near Maunie, in 1990. ing this is the location of the most branchus alleganiensis ) from Illinois. Other Illinois records include Skillet Fork recent observation of the hellbender in Creek, the Cache River and the Ohio Illinois, it is the highest priority for River proper. Small, remnant popula - future surveys. 26 / Outdoor Illinois October 2007 generally much larger than mudpuppies. Hellbenders respire directly through their skin, which requires that the waters they live in be highly oxygenated. The body folds facilitate respiration by increasing the surface area for gas exchange. Sluggish current and siltation reduce the amount of oxygen that is available for uptake by hellbenders, and limit their distribution. The diet of hellbenders consists of crayfish, fish and invertebrates such as ) . n helgramites (Dobsonfly larvae). Repro - o i t a v r duction is similar to most fish in that fer - e s n o C tilization is external (sperm and eggs are f o t n mixed in the water). Courtship and e m t r a breeding, which occur in late summer p e D i r and early autumn, usually take place u o s s i under large, flat rocks. Male hellbenders M y s e t r guard the eggs, which may number u o c o more than 200 from a single female. t o h P Newly hatched hellbenders are about 1 ( inch long and have external gills until As hellbenders mature, juveniles about 2 years of age. (below) lose their dark coloration The hellbender is native to the Ozarks of Missouri and Arkansas, the and take on the mottled appear - Appalachian Mountains, and tributaries ance of an adult (above). of the Ohio River from New York to Illi - nois. In areas where hellbenders are Hellbenders receive protection in more abundant, they often are encoun - almost all states in which they occur. tered by fisherman, especially on trot Declines in abundance have been docu - lines. Historically, some anglers have mented in several states, including Mis - killed hellbenders as they mistakenly souri and Arkansas. believed this salamander is venomous If hellbenders are eventually docu - and that they reduce game fish popula - mented in the Wabash River, it will tions by eating their eggs. Although hell - require cooperation between Illinois and ) benders may bite if provoked, they are Indiana to conserve this magnificent . r r e o n not venomous and there is no evidence amphibian. Hellbender surveys involving K e k i that they have a negative impact on biolgoists from both states could begin M y s e t local game fish populations. next year. r u o c o t o h P ( ) . n o i t a v r Seventeen years have passed since e s n o C f the last confirmed sighting of a o t n e m t hellbender in Illinois. r a p e D i r u o s s i Hellbenders are most often confused M y s e t r with another large aquatic salamander, u o c o t the mudpuppy ( Necturus maculosus ). o h P Distinguishing between the two species ( is straightforward as the mudpuppy has external gills throughout its life. In addi - tion, hellbenders have numerous folds of skin on the sides of the body and are October 2007 Outdoor Illinois / 27.

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