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The Nests and Nest Site Selection by Ozark Hellbenders, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi Grobman

1986; Kansas Academy of Science; Volume: 89; Issue: 1/2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/3627735

1938-5420

Max A. Nickerson, Mark D. Tohulka,

Species Distribution and Climate Change

Two Ozark hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi, nests were discovered by the authors in early October 1980 within crevices between dolomitic limestone bedrock in the North Fork of the White River, Ozark County, Missouri. Although we were unable to pry into the crevices with steel bars we assume they were nests because of the presence of egg strands (Figs. 1-3) and social activity. Since the nests of Ozark hellbenders have not been described, and because our observations seem to vary from Cryptobranchus nests described by Alexander (1927) and Bishop (1941), we herein include a brief description of the two nests. Nest One was discovered at 13:30 h CSDST on 2 October along the eastern margin of a riffle. Water temperature was 170C and there was no noticeable current. A single strand of eggs was protruding (Figs. 1-3) from a crevice. The top portion of bedrock was almost 2 m in length, 35 to 40 cm thick and rested in a huge slab of bedrock. The opening extended for more than a meter in length and to 4.0 cm in height, was mostly perpendicular to the stream bed, and faced upsteam. At least one C. a. bishopi was in the nest, and within fifteen minutes an adult female, which appeared to be spent, walked to the nest rock and slid under its margin (Fig. 3). Nest Two was found 8 October at 13:20 h CSDST within 4 m of the east