A member of the Cryptobranchidae family, which includes the hellbender and similar amphibians with hidden or reduced gills.
From 'crypto-' (Greek kryptos 'hidden') plus 'branch' (from Greek branchia 'gill'). This zoological term was coined in the 19th century to describe amphibians whose gills are concealed under a fold of skin or reduced in visibility.
The hellbender amphibian literally breathes through its wrinkled skin—its gills are tucked away under folds, so calling it a 'cryptobranch' means 'hidden-gill creature.' It's a perfectly weird adjective for a perfectly weird animal.
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