The females lack cloacal sperm receptacles, which are present in all other families of salamanders. Hellbenders were once thought to be poisonous. A bite can be painful but minimally dangerous. These beasts are listed under Wildlife Resources as species of Special Concern for North Carolina. They can be found in the western part of the state in large, clean, fast flowing streams under large, flat rocks, mainly in the streams of the Mississippi drainage system.
Females are slightly larger than males.
Hellbender heads are flat, they have small lidless eyes, short, stout legs, and a large, wrinkled fold of skin along each side of the body. Adults lack gills but retain gill slits on the side of the throat, concealed by folds of skin. Costal grooves are not well developed - lost in the wrinkled skin. There are four toes on the front legs and five on the hind. The hind toes are rounded and flattened at the tip, and have fleshy margins.