On a recent trip out to visit family in Licking, Ohio, we set out to explore the parks.  At Mound Park there were many hills, valleys, and streams. In one of these streams I was lucky enough to spot this herp, a hellbender or Cryptobranchus alleganiensis. It was not fully grown (only about 8") and was easy to spot. They are easy to identify with their flattened head and wrinkly, folded skin. The younger ones contain spots and will eventually lose gills when they grow to about 5 inches. They are aquatic and live under ample shelter such as large rocks. This one was found by this principle as it only took a few glances at rocky areas to be spotted.

Alex Hamad, Miami University