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Conservation - Endangered Species
10:42 am
Thu November 1, 2012

More 'Baby Giants' Arrive At The Saint Louis Zoo

Credit Jill Utrup/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Endangered Ozark hellbenders can reach up to two feet in length. A shy species, it spends much of its time hiding under rocks on the stream bottom.
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The Saint Louis Zoo once again is teeming with baby giant salamanders.

For the second year in a row, the zoo has successfully bred endangered Ozark hellbenders in captivity.

This time, a total of eight females laid 2,809 fertile eggs. Two-hundred and fourteen salamander larvae have hatched so far, with many more expected.

Even though the salamanders are smaller than a quarter when they first hatch, as adults they can reach lengths of up to two feet.

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Hellbender Song
2:16 pm
Fri April 20, 2012

Endangered hellbender salamander inspires song

Credit (Jeff Briggler, Missouri Department of Conservation)
Adult Ozark hellbenders can reach up to two feet in length.
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You may remember our story about the St. Louis Zoo successfully breeding an endangered giant salamander. Now the hellbender is being honored in song:

The St. Louis band FIRE DOG is offering its hellbender song as a free download on Sunday in honor of Earth Day.

In the meantime, here are the lyrics:

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Animals
4:18 pm
Thu January 5, 2012

Zoo Crafts Love Nest To Save Ozark's Salamanders

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Credit Jeff Briggler / Missouri Department of Conservation
An adult Ozark hellbender is typically brown or green with black markings that help it blend in with its rocky river-bottom habitat.
Credit Veronique LaCapra / St. Louis Public Radio
Two outdoor raceways, or artificial streams, are home to 16 adult Ozark hellbenders at the Saint Louis Zoo. The screens keep the hellbenders in –- and unwanted predators like raccoons out.
Credit Mark Wanner / Saint Louis Zoo
Ozark hellbender embryos developing in their eggs at the Saint Louis Zoo.
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By Veronique LaCapra

Originally published on Thu January 5, 2012 4:11 pm

It's flat. It's slimy. And it hides under rocks on the river bottom. It's the Ozark hellbender, and at up to two feet in length, it's one of the world's largest salamanders.

But Ozark hellbenders are disappearing: Fewer than 600 are left in the rivers of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas. Scientists have been making a huge effort to get them to breed in captivity. And now, thanks to a major effort at the Saint Louis Zoo, 2012 could be the year of new hope for hellbenders.

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