Content Stats & Analytics for @antonsrkn

Anton Sorokin
@antonsrkn

23,631 followers

A more standard portrait of one of the hellbenders (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) - truly impressive animals but tricky to photograph due to their camouflage and tendency to resemble just another rock. Moreso, although they are capable swimmers they tend to stay at the bottom of the stream and crawl rather than swim except when escaping another hellbender. In many hours of observation I never saw one come to the surface for a gulp of air although others in our group of gummy gator watchers did. In a paper from 1907 - I found mention of a dozen hellbenders being kept in a cage submerged in flowing water and with no access to the surface for two days with no ill effects. That's because most of their respiration happens cutaneously i.e. through their skin. The folds of skin along their sides are highly vascularized and are able to uptake oxygen from the water. And that's why this entirely aquatic species is found in cool flowing waters as opposed to lakes or swamps with more stagnant less oxygenated waters. Also offers some perspective as to why this species is particularly sensitive to habitat modification or degradation. . . . #amphibianconservation #amphibiansofinstagram #amphibian #salamandersofinstagram #salamander #caudata #herpetologia #herping #fieldherping #freshwatersnorkeling #freshwaterlife #underwaterworld #uwphotography #nikonnature #nikonnofilter #nikoncreators #nikonunderwater #underwaterphotographer #underwaterlife #cleanwater #aquaticlife #aquaticanimals