Inhabiting only two of New York State's river drainages, the eastern hellbender is an intriguing and bizarre animal and hails as the Americas' largest aquatic salamander. Individuals usually sport dark mottling over the back and upper sides. Several loose flaps of thick, wrinkled skin, which serve a respiratory function, run laterally along either side of the animal. These salamanders are perfectly adapted to their swift flowing stream habitats with their flattened head and body, short stout legs, long rudderlike tail, and very small beady eyes.
Hellbenders are aquatic organisms throughout their life and remain active year-round.
Hellbenders become active after dark, leaving shelter to forage, feeding primarily on crayfish, fish, frogs and a variety of invertebrates. Courtship and breeding begin in late summer. Sexually mature salamanders migrate to and congregate within certain areas to breed. Hellbenders are more conspicuous at this time of the year and some diurnal activity may be observed on overcast days. Males excavate a large nest chamber beneath a rock in preparation for breeding.