The two male hellbenders clamped on to each other’s jaws David recalls, ‘each waiting for the other to give up’.
He’d worked for three years with biologists in North Carolina to gain permission and access to the breeding locations of these impressive salamanders, hoping to photograph a rarely captured fight such as this one. After spawning, male hellbenders fight to defend their eggs from predators and other hellbenders. Reaching up to 75 centimetres long, these are the largest salamanders in North America. These sizeable amphibians are listed as near threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, mostly due to degradation of their rocky river habitat.
USA
David’s passion lies in documenting stories that help foster a greater appreciation for the life that resides in our rivers and streams. Equipped with a mask, snorkel and camera, he works at the confluence of science, conservation and storytelling. David strives to create compelling science-based imagery that addresses the challenges that are currently faced by our planet’s forest and freshwater ecosystems.
Help us harness the power of photography to advance scientific knowledge, spread awareness of important issues and nurture a global love for nature.
