Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Ozark Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Amphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Cryptobranchidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

The Ozark hellbender (C. a. bishopi) is restricted to southern Missouri and northeastern Arkansas (Nickerson and Mays 1973). The Ozark subspecies is described as having dark dorsal blotching and noticeably pronounced chin mottling as opposed to the dorsal spotting of the eastern subspecies which has a uniformly colored chin (Grobman 1943, Nickerson and Mays 1973, Petranka 1998). C. a. bishopi also differs from the eastern subspecies by having considerably reduced spiracular (gill-like) openings, smooth skin in the ventral canal system of the pectoral portion of the lateral line system, and smaller overall body size (Grobman 1943, Nickerson and Mays 1973).

Map of Species occurrence

For the best experience, make sure that javascript is enabled and that you have the Adobe Flash Player installed Click here to download and install the Flash Player

Map Image Map of Species occurrence

This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please contact the Fish & Wildlife Office near you (click here: http://www.fws.gov/offices/)

Lead Region:  Great Lakes-Big Rivers Region (Region 3)

» Candidate Information

Current Candidate Status

Listing Priority: 3
Magnitude: High
Immediacy: Imminent
Taxonomy: Subspecies/population
Species Assessment Form for the Ozark Hellbender -- 201Kb.
Candidate Notice of Review Documents (Showing 5 of 8: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
11/09/2009 74 FR 57803 57878 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
12/10/2008 73 FR 75175 75244 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
12/06/2007 72 FR 69033 69106 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
09/12/2006 71 FR 53755 53835 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
05/11/2005 70 FR 24869 24934 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 8: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
11/09/2009 74 FR 57803 57878 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
12/10/2008 73 FR 75175 75244 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
12/06/2007 72 FR 69033 69106 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule
09/12/2006 71 FR 53755 53835 Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions
05/11/2005 70 FR 24869 24934 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Native Species That Are Candidates or Proposed for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notice of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions; Proposed Rule

» Action Plans

Action Plans (Showing 1 of 1)
Date Title
Ozark hellbender action plan

» Conservation Plans

No conservation plans have been created for Ozark Hellbender

» Petitions

No petition findings have been published for the Ozark Hellbender.

» Life History

No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

» Other Resources

NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

Last updated: July 31, 2010