It’s not an area most people would imagine going for a dive with an underwater camera, but in parts of the Appalachian Mountains, there are some unique creatures. One of them is the Eastern Hellbender.
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Despite the somewhat dramatic name, the Eastern Hellbender is actually a very large salamander.
Andrew Zimmerman, an underwater photographer based in the Southeast, shared a recent video of his search for the creature.
Take a look:
The video starts with an overhead shot of Zimmerman, geared up as if he’s about to dive on a coral reef. The footage then cuts to an overhead shot of a river or creek that winds through the mountains, accompanied by the text, “In some Appalachian rivers, dragons still exist.”
Seconds later, he spots the Eastern Hellbender under a rock and captures striking footage of the animal swimming underwater.
The video ends with a slideshow of stunning images of the Hellbender, an almost alien-like creature.
More About the Eastern Hellbender
According to the North Carolina Wildlife Federation, the Eastern Hellbender has a variety of nicknames. They include the Allegheny alligator, devil dog, and snot otter.
Hellbenders are one of three giant salamander species in the world. It can grow up to 17 inches long and weigh up to three pounds. They live under fallen trees and flat rocks in fast-moving rivers and creeks, spending their time eating fish and crayfish.
The organization says spotting the animal can be fairly rare, but if you do see one, it’s a sign of good water quality.
“Hellbenders are super sensitive to silt, sedimentation, and water pollution. Because of this, they are considered biological indicators of water quality,” said the NC Wildlife Federation. “As the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) puts it, ‘If there is a healthy Hellbender population in a stream, there is clean water.’”
Would you go diving to spot these massive salamanders?
