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Abnormalities in the Ozark Hellbender, (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi)

2002; Arkansas Academy of Science; Volume: 56; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

2326-0505

Benjamin Wheeler, Malcolm L. McCallum, Stanley E. Trauth,

Fish Ecology and Management Studies

Declines in eastern hellbender, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis, populations have been reported in the scientific literature for over 50 years (Swanson, 1948). Nickerson and Mays (1973) provided state-by-state status reviews of the hellbender across its range. These state-level status reviews were updated by Williams et al. (1981). Since then, further reports of declining hellbender populations have occurred throughout the range of the species (Gates et al., 1985; Pfingsten, 1990). Only recently, have population declines in the Ozark hellbender, C. a. bishopi, been reported (Trauth et al., 1992; Wheeler et al., 2003). There have been many putative reasons suggested for the decline of Ozark hellbender populations; among these are over-collection, habitat alteration, fishing, chemical spills, a 100-year flood, lowered dissolved oxygen levels, eutrophication, and water pollution due to industrial, municipal and recreational discharge (Federal Registry, 2001; Trauth et al.,1992; Wheeler et al., 2003). These and other similar studies combined with the limited range of this species have led to the Ozark hellbender being listed as a Federal Endangered Species Candidate (Federal Registry, 2001). During the data collection for the initial status survey by Trauth et al. (1992) and subsequent studies (Wheeler and Trauth, unpubl. data), occasional notes were recorded regarding the body condition of individual salamanders. A review of these field notes indicated that many of these salamanders had abnormalities (e.g., missing toes, feet, limbs; Fig.lA). Some individuals possessed exposed bones in these regions (Fig. IB),indicating recent injuries. From 1990 to 2002, we recorded abnormalities on 8% (17 of 215) of the hellbenders examined. Because we made no consistent effort to record all abnormalities during this