hellbender

hellbender (HEL-ben-der) - n., a giant salamander (Cryptobranchus alleganiensis) of the eastern United States having a stout brownish body and broad head.


As in huge -- can grow over 70cm (28in) long from snout to tail. Name is an Americanism, supposedly for its ugliness or possibly in the belief it was a monster escaped from hell. Other names include snot otter, grampus, and Allegheny alligator.


Thanks, WikiMedia!

---L.