Hellbender survey - Elk River

[jaster]

So far, Crytobranchus alleganensis has not been documented on the Elk River. That is what my good friend Worth and I have set out to do.

Cryptobranchus alleganensis

Such a wonderful being! First one I have seen in a while too!

Herping at its best!

Can you spot it?!

Not too hard, but this one is always in this spot next to the falls.

She has an odd behavior of rocking side to side every few seconds. I have suspected it to be for respiration purposes...

And to top it off, on the trek out of the falls I found three Eurycea l. longicada under three rocks next to each other!

New background!

Awesome how the juvies look so similar between longicauda, melanophora and guttolineata.

Herps 4 life!

Thanks

 

[Nathan050793]

I'm not sure why no one posted on this before; this is a great field herping account! Thanks so much for sharing!

 

[deliriah]

I agree, great account! Not sure how I missed this! I think those may be some of the best hellbender pictures I've seen yet. I wish I was out there doing what you're doing, I've always been interested in Cryptobranchus. But I live nowhere near them. Thanks for sharing!

 

[JWERNER]

Where is Elk River?

Nice finds. I remember not last year but the year before I was finding about 6 Long Tails a day in PA. Never hell Bender though. Thats gotta always be a good find.

 

[John]

Very nice indeed. I hope giving out the location as you have doesn't cause people to poach them...

I will be in your neck of the woods in August (NC/TN border) for the second time this year and I might have a look myself.

 

[Mac Myers]

I missed this too. Thanks for bumping it Nathan.

Love those pictures.

 

[jelkins]

Fantastic! A consulting company has been doing research on them in my home state of KY checking their historical locals...We have several populations here that are doing o.k. but their historical range has shrunk based on the initial surveys. I hope this species gets a listing here in our state, but due to all the mining it may be a pipe dream.

 

[freves]

Wonderful find! Congratulations.
Chip