| Scientific Name |  Click photo to enlarge. Photo courtesy of Bill Peterman. |
||||
| Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis (Daudin) - ATBI Database: Specimen Records | |||||
| Common Name | |||||
| Eastern hellbender | |||||
| Kingdom | Phylum | Class | Order | Family | |
| Animalia | Chordata | Amphibia | Caudata | Cryptobranchidae | |
| Animals | Chordates | Amphibians | Salamanders | Giant Salamanders and Hellbenders | |
SPECIES DESCRIPTION
Type: River-dwelling salamander.Elevation Range: Below 800 m.
Adult Total Length: 300-740 mm.
Adult characteristics: Flattened body and head with small eyes and large tail. Dorsolateral fleshy skin folds. Dorsum and belly have dark splotches on a brown matrix.
Similar species
None.
Photographs
| Adult | Adult |
 |
 |
| Click photos to enlarge. Photo courtesy of Bill Peterman. |
Click photo to enlarge. Photo property of Michael Graziano. |
DISTRIBUTION
Unites States
 Click map to enlarge. |
Park
 Click map for current locations. |
NATURAL HISTORY
Habitat
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis is a river-dwelling salamander that inhabits only the largest of the Smokies’ rivers, including Little River, Middle Prong, Oconaluftee River, Little Pigeon River, Abrams Creek, the lower reaches of Deep Creek and, perhaps, Hazel Creek. The only other true river-dwelling salamander in the Park is the Common Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus), known only from Little River and Abrams Creek.
One additional salamander, the Junaluska Salamander (Eurycea junaluska), tends to be associated with some of the Park's larger western and northwestern streams and rivers on the Tennessee side of the Smokies. Larvae are found near the shore, and the adults inhabit streambanks for at least part of the year. However, this species also inhabits some smaller streams, and it is by no means a "river-dwelling" species.
They often leave cover at night, when they forage.Reproduction
Egg deposition interval: from September to early November.
Incubation time: 2-3 months.
Hatching interval: from winter to early spring.
Larval time: N/A.
Hatching size: approximately 27 mm total length.
Metamorphosis size: N/A
Metamorphosis interval: n/A
Larval characteristics: N/A
Larvae
Stream larvae have slim bodies, short gills, and a narrow tail fin that does not extend onto the body.
| Larvae | |
 |
 |
| Click illustrations to enlarge. Illustrations by J. B. Grant. |
|
Longevity
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis may live up to 25 years.
CONSERVATION BIOLOGY
Special Protection Status
Rangewide
N/A
In Park
Picking, digging, or otherwise damaging plants is prohibited in the Park. Collection is allowed only by special permit for research or educational purposes.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Illustrations
Jacqualine Grant, 2001.Maps
United States: ARMI National Atlas for Amphibians Distributions. 2004. http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/armiatlas/index.cfm. Patuxent Wildlife Research Center, Laurel, MD 20708-4039.
Park: Discover Life in America - All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory. 2007. The ATBI Database. http://tremont22.campus.utk.edu/ATBI_start.cfm, Discover Life in America, Gatlinburg, Tennessee 37738.
Photographs
Bill Peterman and Michael Graziano.
Text
Charles Wilder, 2007.Web page
REFERENCES
Dodd, C. Kenneth. 2003. Monitoring Amphibians in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. U.S. Geological Survey circular; 1258.
Dodd, C. Kenneth. 2004. The Amphibians of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Tilley, S. G., Huheey, J. E., 2001. Reptiles and Amphibians of the Smokies. Great Smoky Mountains Association. Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
