"These rare salamanders, which can grow to over two feet long, lurk in the wild rivers of Appalachia. To spot one, you’ll need a snorkel, and some luck."
"Beneath the sun-dappled surface of burbling Appalachian rivers, giants lurk.
They hide on the bottom, their mottled skin — a swirl of orange, brown and gray — blending with the sand and pebbles. They peer out with beady eyes from beneath boulders, waiting to ambush crayfish and other prey.
But they’re not monsters. They’re salamanders. Specifically, Eastern hellbenders, the largest ones in North America. These giants sometimes grow more than two feet long yet manage to remain elusive even in shallow waters. Their range extends from New York south to northern Alabama, with another population in the Missouri Ozarks.
Some believe that the name hellbender came from European settlers who thought the creature seemed like something from hell that was bent on returning. Others affectionately call the creatures “mud devils” or “Allegheny alligators.” Whatever the nickname, hellbenders have become a cultural symbol, lending their likeness to beer, cafes, baseball teams, a 100-mile ultramarathon-style race and at least one burrito shop."
Mihir Zaveri reports for the New York Times with photographs by Will Crooks August 1, 2025.
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