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WILD & WIERD: The Hellbender Rock Anthem and Music Video

We've covered hellbenders here before, because we love them. But they're not the cuddliest of species, with their slimy bodies that look like the 2-foot-long lovechild of phlegm and a rock. Actually these critters — also called "devil dogs" and "snot otters" — are pretty much a PR nightmare for anyone trying to fight off their extinction due to water pollution and dams. The rallying cry "Save the Snot Otter" doesn't always go over well.

Happily for the hellbender, a band from St. Louis is now doing this salamander justice through song. They may yet make a rock 'n' roll legend out of North America's largest amphibian.  

We think there are few things more rockin' than raising a little hellbender. 

Listen to the song in this music video we made (where you can also learn more about the species and our work to protect it):

This video originally appeared on the Center's YouTube channel, with the music courtesy of St. Louis band FIRE DOG.