55K views · 2.3K reactions | The largest fully aquatic salamander in the United States, the hellbender absorbs oxygen from the water through its wrinkly skin. Hellbender nicknames include snot otter, water dog, lasagna lizard and Allegheny alligator. | Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden | Facebook

Growing hellbenders eat almost every day; however, keepers will not feed them their first meals until they are roughly 2 months old. For those first couple of months, baby hellbenders absorb their yolks for nutrients. After the first meals are offered, keepers watch for 💩to make sure all babies have fully formed digestive tracts. – Patty Bueckendorf, Hellbender Keeper Watch Patty feed the babies their first meal! A delicious serving of blackworms, which are small live worms. #HelpingHellbenders

985K views · 9.6K reactions | ANOTHER FIRST!  We're so excited to...

1.7K reactions · 303 shares | Have you ever heard of a hellbender?...