Meet the School for Advanced Studies Northwest Arkansas mascot, the Ozark hellbender!
The hellbender is a large, aquatic salamander native to the Arkansas region. Learn more about this unique mascot!
The Ozark hellbender is a subspecies of the Northern American hellbender—one of only three species of giant salamanders found on Earth. It is found only in a handful of clear, cool rivers located in the Ozarks of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas.
Ozark hellbenders are large (between 10.6–21.3 inches), permanently aquatic salamanders that are readily identified by the numerous wrinkly folds of skin along their sides. These skin folds provide increased surface area for cutaneous respiration, as hellbenders breathe through their skin by taking in dissolved oxygen from the water.
Seldom seen by the casual observer, Ozark hellbenders are nocturnal and spend most of their time beneath large, flat rocks or within bedrock crevices. Crayfish are their preferred prey, but Ozark hellbenders will also feed on small fish, snails, and insects.
Sadly, the hellbender is an endangered species, facing threats from habitat loss and pollution.
Since the 1970s, the population of Ozark hellbenders living in the rivers of southern Missouri and northern Arkansas has dropped by more than 70%. This caused the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to formally list the Ozark Hellbender as a federally endangered species in 2011.
These population declines have been attributed to habitat alteration and degradation, over collecting, disease, predation, and degraded water quality owing to pollution from agricultural runoff and increased sedimentation from bank erosion.
Several conservation programs have been put into place to protect the Ozark hellbender. Here in Arkansas, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) monitors hellbenders remaining in the wild. There is also a captive breeding program underway at the St. Louis Zoo.
The Ozark hellbender is known for its remarkable resilience and adaptability—traits that perfectly embody the spirit of our school.
The hellbender’s ability to survive in challenging environments makes it a powerful symbol of our commitment to fostering students who can thrive in any situation. Just like the hellbender, our students learn to adapt, overcome obstacles, and persevere.
Additionally, by adopting the Ozark hellbender as the mascot for the School for Advanced Studies, we hope to raise awareness about the fragile plight of this remarkable species found only in our Ozark ecosystem. Students and faculty will work to support conservation efforts here in Arkansas.
Want to join the School for Advanced Studies family? We are currently accepting applications for the 2025–26 school year. Our tuition-free charter school for grades 5–12 empowers students to become confident leaders. Apply today!
