Promoting the Conservation of North American Giant Salamanders

 

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Hellbender Photos

(Click on thumbnails for larger images)
All photos by Jeff Humphries unless otherwise noted.

Hellbenders
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries2.JPG (161164 bytes) An adult hellbender from North Carolina
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries21.JPG (143751 bytes) An adult hellbender from West Virginia
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries16.JPG (236922 bytes) 4 male hellbenders from North Carolina
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries7.jpg (79617 bytes) Cloacal swelling in a male hellbender during the breeding season
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries3.JPG (90851 bytes) One-year-old hellbender
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries4.JPG (82791 bytes) One-year-old hellbender
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries5.JPG (151973 bytes) Juvenile hellbender from North Carolina; probably about 5 years old
 

Habitat
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries15.JPG (200702 bytes) Where's the hellbender? An adult walks the stream bottom in North Carolina
upsitewv.jpg (123148 bytes) Excellent hellbender habitat in West Virginia
habitatsmall.jpg (75591 bytes) Excellent hellbender habitat in North Carolina
ncstream2.jpg (113962 bytes) Walking a stream in search of hellbenders in North Carolina
ncstream.jpg (138566 bytes) Excellent habitat in North Carolina
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries11.JPG (136193 bytes) Mud and silt from roads causes damage to hellbender habitat downstream
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries10.JPG (195117 bytes) Roads are a major source of sediment that chokes hellbender habitat
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries9.JPG (214044 bytes) Acid mine drainage in West Virginia; this is in an area where most streams are sterile because of runoff from coal mines
 

Research
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries14.JPG (172642 bytes) Measuring a hellbender
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries17.jpg (21480 bytes) Electronic tags (PIT tags) can be injected into the tail of hellbenders to identify individuals; these are the same tags used to identify dogs and cats
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries18.jpg (8118 bytes) PIT tags used to mark hellbenders; each tag contains a microchip that gives each hellbender a specific number
 

Aggression
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries20.jpg (116653 bytes) A group of 3 male hellbenders near a nesting rock in North Carolina; the nest rock is to the left
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries1.JPG (154012 bytes) This hellbender is approaching a nest rock that is being guarded by another male (he's under the rock in this photo); see next photo for what happens to the intruder
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries13.JPG (139403 bytes) After poking his head under the nest rock, this hellbender was attacked by the guarding male
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries6.JPG (183749 bytes) Battles for nest rocks often result in major injuries
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries19.JPG (115908 bytes) Scarring resulting from bites from another hellbender, probably during a battle for a nesting rock
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries12.JPG (114528 bytes) This hellbender was bitten by another hellbender about 1 month before this photo was taken
hellbenderphoto_j.humphries8.JPG (114607 bytes) Some battles between hellbenders result in missing limbs; amazingly, this doesn't seem to have much of an effect on individuals. I've caught this 3-legged hellbender every year for about 4 years and he seems to be doing fine. 
 

Japanese Giant Salamanders
andrias_j.humphries1.JPG (89262 bytes) A large Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) from a stream not too far from Hiroshima
andrias_j.humphries2.JPG (90638 bytes) The same Japanese giant salamander... amazing salamanders!

 

Copyright 2006. This site developed and maintained by Jeff Humphries.
If you have questions or comments, please send an email to jeff@hellbenders.org.