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New Pa. License Plate Features State Amphibian, The Eastern Hellbender

Pennsylvania drivers who want to support wildlife conservation can do so in style with a new license plate honoring the eastern hellbender, the large salamander species that became the state amphibian in 2019.

The new plate was unveiled this week by officials with PennDOT, the Department of Conservation & Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. It's one of 14 special fund registration plates for which motorists can pay extra to support a variety of causes in Pennsylvania — in this case, the Wild Resource Conservation Fund.

To get the eastern hellbender plate — or any special fund plate — motorists must fill out PennDOT's form MV-911. The full fee for the eastern hellbender plate is $41, of which $15 goes to the WRCF.

The eastern hellbender is the largest salamander in North America, growing as long as 2 1/2 feet and up to 5 pounds. The origin of its name is a matter of legend. Some believe that early U.S. Settlers thought they looked like underworld creatures that were hell-bent on returning to Earth. They've also picked up a number of other nicknames like Allegheny alligator, snot otter, water dog, lasagna sides, devil dog, mud devil, mud cat and walking catfish.

Found in fast-flowing, clean waters, the aquatic species tends to dwell under rocks and in river bottoms. Their populations have declined in recent decades due to lower water quality, susceptibility to chemical contamination and soil erosion filling in rocky areas where they prefer to live.

"While many of these animals are so rare that most Pennsylvanians may never see one in the wild, this license plate is a visible reminder that all species are valuable parts of Pennsylvania ecosystems and are worth protecting," said Tim Schaeffer, executive director of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission. "The eastern hellbender is also a relevant and charismatic barometer of local water quality."

The WRCF identifies research needs and provides grants for programs supporting native wildlife and plant species in Pennsylvania. Since its creation in 1982, it has played an important role in reintroducing river otters into Pennsylvania water systems. The otter also has a special fund license plate.

In the early 1990s, Pennsylvania introduced several popular special fund plates that have since been retired, including the saw-whet owl plate. A popular plate that's still available is the "Preserve Our Heritage" design, which features a train and supports the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

The eastern hellbender became the state amphibian after students and environmental groups spurred a legislative campaign led by state Sen. Gene Yaw,  a Republican from Williamsport. Yaw and other advocates for the eastern hellbender's elevated status argued that the salamander exemplifies what is good about the state's waterways.

"It serves as a meaningful symbol of Pennsylvania's clean water and biological diversity and is worthy of this important designation," Yaw said in response to the unveiling of the new license plate. 

University Of Michigan Now Home To World's Largest Collection Of Snake Specimens

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (FOX 2) - For some, being in the presences of tens of thousands of dead snakes would be a nightmare. But for students at the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, "It's like Christmas."

Drew Heur, an undergrad in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology department, was opening a box full of sealed jars full of reptile and amphibian specimens stored in alcohol.

"Nice. So what we have here is Thamnophis elegans. It is one of many species of garter snakes found in the U.S. And this one is from California," he said, reading the first jar he pulled out.

The unboxing video was posted on the University of Michigan's YouTube account. It's part of the school's recent acquiring of 70,000 snakes that it will use to better understand how the species form, how reptiles and amphibians evolve, and why are there so many kinds of venomous snakes.

With its recent possession, the University of Michigan now maintains the largest collection of snakes anywhere in the world.

They arrived in more than 100 boxes and included jarred lizards, salamanders, newts, frogs, turtles in addition to the snakes. They'll be held at the school's Research Museums Center, which sits several miles off-campus.

MORE: Arctic grayling can now be fished in Michigan as state readies for depleted species' return

Dan Rabosky, a curator at the museum likened the facility as a "giant scientific instrument—such as a telescope or a particle accelerator."

"It's an active, vibrant place where people are asking all sorts of big questions about life on Earth and how we are impacting it," he said in a statement.

Jars of snakes preserved in alcohol at the University of Michigan's Research Museums Center. U-M recently acquired tens of thousands of additional reptile and amphibian specimens—including roughly 30,000 snakes—and now hosts the world's largest research collection of snakes, according to museum curators. Photo credit: Eric Bronson, Michigan Photography.

About 45,000 specimens delivered to the museum are from Oregon State. According to a release announcing the move, the snake specimen collection is the culmination of a lifetime of work from two recently retired professors. It's also a symbol of the partnership between the two schools.

Most of the snake specimens are garter and water snakes.

"These are two powerhouse snake collections coming together to become something entirely new—a super-collection capable of doing things together that neither one could have done alone," said Alison Davis Rabosky, an associate professor in the U-M Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.

Japanese Giant Salamander Toy Becomes Cuddly Kyoto Sensation

KYOTO--A strange souvenir is an unexpected hit at Kyoto Aquarium in the city's Shimogyo Ward: Japanese giant salamander stuffed toys.

They may not fit everyone's idea of cute, but the stuffed salamanders are flying off the shelves of the aquarium's gift shop.

Unlike the real amphibian, whose mottled bodies are "slimy and gooey," the toys are fluffy and cuddly, an aquarium official said. They faithfully reproduce the salamander's four toes on its front feet and the five on their rear feet. Their small black eyes are quite adorable.

The approximately 20 live salamanders at the aquarium pile up on each other and hardly move, but are popular with visitors. Plenty of kids and adults hover around the spot where they're displayed to watch them.

The Japanese giant salamander, one of the world's largest amphibians, is 150 centimeters long or more when mature. The largest of its stuffed toy counterparts commands attention for its enormous 170 cm-long size.

The price tag is sizable, too: 25,720 yen ($234), including tax, but they often sell out and are the gift shop's top item year-round, with the December gift-giving season providing an even bigger sales bump.

One challenge for people who buy the big toy is how to get it home.

Sales clerk Sachi Nakamura, 39, said she worries if a student who buys one would be able to find a spot big enough for it if they are riding the Shinkansen home.

Luckily, the toys are available in five sizes from small to large and for those with limited space the shop offers a 20-cm S size for 930 yen.

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