hellbender

Thân thiện

A hellbender rests on the rocky bottom of a clear stream.

Definition

Noun: 1. A large aquatic salamander: A type of salamander that lives in rivers and streams, characterized by its large size, flat body, and wrinkled skin. It is native to North America. * Scientific name: Cryptobranchus alleganiensis. * Common names: snot otter, devil dog, Allegheny alligator.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Biologists are studying the hellbender to understand its role in the river ecosystem.
  • We were surprised to see a hellbender under a rock while hiking near the stream.
  • The hellbender is an indicator species, meaning its health reflects the health of the water.

Advanced Usage

• The word is often used in conservation contexts to discuss the species' declining population and habitat protection.
  • Efforts to save the hellbender include breeding programs and clean-water initiatives.

Variants and Related Words

• Salamander (n): The broader category of amphibians to which the hellbender belongs.
• Cryptobranchid (n): A member of the family Cryptobranchidae, which includes the hellbender and its Asian relatives, the giant salamanders.

Synonyms

• Snot otter (n, informal)
• Devil dog (n, informal)
• Mud devil (n, informal)

Related Idioms or Phrases

• None directly associated. The word "hellbender" is primarily a zoological term and is not commonly used in idiomatic expressions. Its informal names (e.g., snot otter) are colorful descriptors rather than idioms.

Học thuật

Noun

1. large salamander of North American rivers and streams

Từ đồng nghĩa

• mud puppy
• Cryptobranchus alleganiensis