Hellbenders go by many names, including snot otter, old lasagna sides, and lasagna lizard. They are among the largest amphibians in the world and are adapted for life underwater. When they hatch, they have external gills, but as they grow, they lose these gills and breathe mostly through their skin.
Hellbenders are native to much of the eastern United States, often found in clear, cold, flowing water. Habitat destruction, the introduction of non-native species, and disease led to the decline of these salamanders. They are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, but protection status also varies by state. In 2024, eastern hellbenders were proposed for federal endangered status, while the Ozark hellbender (a subspecies) is already federally endangered.
You can find them in the Ozark Mountain Stream exhibit, located across from the alligator in the Bayou, in the Mississippi River Center.