Prevalence of Physical Abnormalities in Eastern Hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis alleganiensis) Populations of Middle Tennessee

Abstract

Abstract We surveyed tributaries of the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers for populations of the Eastern Hellbender during the early 1990s. We captured 42 Hellbenders at the Collins River (Warren County), 28 at the Buffalo River (Lawrence County), four at the Calfkiller River (White County), and three at the Duck River (Coffee County). All Hellbenders collected from the Collins, Calfkiller, and Duck Rivers were sexually mature; by contrast, 25% of the Hellbenders collected at the Buffalo River were juveniles. We found that 41% of all mature Hellbenders had gross abnormalities; whereas, no physical abnormalities were noted on any juvenile Hellbenders. The abnormalities noted were similar at each river and included the absence of one or more digits, supernumerary digits, bifurcate manus or pes, absence of one or more limbs, and truncated tails. Fresh wounds (abnormalities) were found only during August and September. We interpret these data as an indication that the injuries were caused by either 1) intraspec...