Hellbender salamanders are huge--and in trouble

The elusive'snot otters' can grow up to two feet long. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. The Eastern hellbender () isn't nearly as fearsome as its name implies. They're actually somewhat cute, if you can get past the salamander's slimy, mucousy skin that's earned it such nicknames, such as "snot otter" and "lasagna lizard." Although hellbenders can grow up to two feet long, the amphibians are notoriously elusive and prefer to reside under large, flat rocks in well-oxygenated waterways that snake through Appalachia and the Ohio River basin.