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Saturday, Nov 21, 2009 08:37:18 PM |
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      HELLBENDERS 
"Hellbender, are you there?" They're the biggest salamander in North America and probably the biggest animal in this stream. You've probably never seen one. Hellbenders. Jennifer Wykle/DNR Biologist "They're so ugly a lot of people just said they're from the depths of Hell, these Hellbenders. You can see it's got really small eyes. They vary in color, some are brown, some orange, some are like an olive color. Some will change color throughout the year." This Hellbender is around 22 inches long. That means he's been crawling around this stream a long time. These amazing salamanders really thrive in West Virginia streams. Jennifer Wykle/DNR Biologist "They can live up past 25 years. I think in captivity the longest a Hellbender lived is 40 years. But they are a long lived species." Long lived, but not really too adventurous. Or for that matter, curious. These Hellbender's love to stay close to home. They spend their entire life, 25 years, going no further than the end of this pole, and almost certainly no further than that tree. Jennifer Wykle/DNR Biologist "That looks like a good rock, nice and curved on the bottom." Hellbenders don't venture out to far from their rocks because they don't have to. Jennifer Wykle/DNR Biologist "They don't move very far. If they like it where they are, and there's lots of crayfish to eat, then they're perfectly happy." Jennifer Wykle/DNR Biologist "O.K., you're free. Thank you!" The Hellbender can be found in several states in the eastern part of the country. They are native to West Virginia and are most likely to be found in clean, fast moving streams. Links to learn more More about West Virginia reptiles and amphibians. A Hellbender home page. The French Creek Project The Hellbender's scientific name is Cryptobranchus allegeniensis Meet Patrick McMurtry. Get your Fishing license online: W.Va. Fish WCHS-TV8 Online brings you the current Fishing Conditions Report updated every week. |
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GET MORE INFORMATION ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA'S WILDLIFE  
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