They like tunneling under ground and they can only be seen active during spring nights. They lay their fist-sized eggs in masses of almost 100 eggs and they are attached to submerged sticks or plants. This is the largest salamander in North America. Some have been recorded to have reached a length of 29 inches. They are seldom seen and prefer large, rocky bottomed streams.
Hellbenders hide under rocks in the daytime and eat crayfish, earthworms, and insects at night.
Mudpuppy Picture by The Ohio Dept. Of Natural Resources Mudpuppies are more common in Ohio than hellbenders. They live in a variety of different habitats including streams. They eat a variety of small aquatic animals and mate in the fall and lay their eggs in the spring.