Observations of Interspecific and Conspecific Cover-Object Sharing by Eastern Hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) in a Pennsylvania Stream Section with Limited Cover-Rock Habitat

Amber L. Pitt^1,*, Sean M. Hartzell², Jamie L. Shinskie³, and Reiley Robinson²

¹Environmental Science Program, Trinity College, 300 Summit Street, Hartford, CT 06106.²Division of Environmental Services, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, 595 East Rolling Ridge Drive, Bellefonte, PA 16823. ³Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, Fort Indiantown Gap National Guard Training Center, Building 26-151 Tomstown Road, Annville, PA 17003. *Corresponding author.

Northeastern Naturalist, Volume 32, Issue 1 (2025): N1–N4

First published early online: 29 March 2025

Abstract
Cryptobranchus alleganiensis (Hellbender) are large aquatic salamanders native to cool, high-quality streams and rivers in the eastern US. Hellbenders inhabit areas that have large, flat cover rocks with open space underneath for sheltering and breeding. Reports of Hellbenders sharing cover with conspecifics and fish are rare, suggesting Hellbenders will displace other organisms from shelter rocks. In a tributary of the North Branch Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania, at least 17% (but possibly 26%) of Hellbenders we observed during surveys shared cover rocks with conspecifics, and 17% shared cover rocks with fish, including Cottus sp. (sculpin), Noturus sp. (madtom catfish), and Anguilla rostrata (American Eel). We suspect these observations may be attributable to a paucity of available cover rocks at this site and may increase the likelihood of ecological interactions among Hellbenders and with other organisms.

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