Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis)

The hellbender is the largest salamander in the United States. It supposedly gets its name from fisherman who claimed the animal “looked like it came from hell, and was bent on going back”. Its loose skin and flattened body make it instantly distinguishable. However, seeing one is quite a challenge, as they are masters of camouflage in the streams they live in. Since the 1920s, hellbender populations have been declining in some northeastern states, making them a species of special concern.