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Re: KillieTalk Digest V2 #1049



> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 1999 12:38:32 -0500
> From: "William Vannerson" <William_Vannerson at ama-assn_org>
> Subject: Re: Killie ponds
> 
> >>What is a "Hellbender"?
> 
> A rather large american amphibian, _Cryptobranchus alleganiensis_,
>found in the eastern United States.  Not much is know about them or their
>numbers, but it is generally believed that their population is declining as
>their native environment is disappearing to development (sound familiar?).
>I beleive they are also fairly sensitive to polutants in their stream,
>their native habitat.

The largest (known) salamander. Actually the claim of late along the
shores of Raritan bay in NJ and the Chesapeake is that the Hellbender
population is on the upswing. It's not like they're commonly seen, they're still
fairly rare, but an article in the 'hunting and fishing'
column in the local paper a couple months ago indicated that they're being
seen more frequently.

Having one in a backyard pond is pretty impressive, esp. one that's lived
20 years on the occasional feeding of dog food in an unfiltered pond.

Matt