Ozark Hellbender Exhibit

I was very excited to paint this mural for the Ozark hellbender salamander exhibit.  Hellbenders (also known as "snot-otters," "mud-devils," "grumpus," or "water dogs") are one of the largest species of amphibian and one of my all-time favorite animals.  It is also a very important animal for the St. Louis Zoo.  The Ozark hellbender is an endangered species found only in the streams of Missouri and northern Arkansas, and the St. Louis Zoo has helped protect them from possible extinction by raising them in carefully maintained artificial streams and releasing them back into the wild.     

Panoramic image of hellbender exhibit

Because hellbenders are an important local species, I decided to go out of my way to include as many local species as possible within the mural.  These include white oak, watercress, sassafras, Ozark wild crocus, early ladies tresses (white flowers in first image), royal catchfly (red flowers), and morel mushrooms (a delicacy around here).  

And, just for fun, below is a watercolor painting I did of a hellbender a couple years ago.