Eastern Hellbender Salamanders Face 40% Decline Amid Habitat Threats

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Eastern hellbender salamanders face potential endangered status after populations dropped from 626 to 371 across 15 states.

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These giant salamanders can grow up to 29 inches long and weigh over four pounds while living entirely underwater.

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Recent data shows 60% of remaining hellbender populations are declining, with only 12% maintaining stability.

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U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service now supports protection after a decade of legal battles led by conservation groups.

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Hellbenders have changed little over the past 160 million years, earning recognition as living fossils.

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Hellbenders breathe through their specially folded skin as they lurk under rocks, ambushing crayfish prey.

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Stream pollution, excessive sediment, habitat destruction, and illegal pet trade collection threaten their survival.

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The Ozark hellbender subspecies received endangered status in 2011, followed by Missouri's eastern hellbender population in 2021.

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Will Meeks from USFWS emphasizes hellbenders' role as indicators of freshwater ecosystem health.

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