Amphibian species populations are in decline worldwide. Water pollution and loss of habitat are taking their toll on many aquatic species and the hellbender, the largest North American salamander, is no exception.

Known by a wide variety of colorful names including snot otters, lasagna lizards, allegheny alligators, mud devils, devil dogs, ground puppies and others live in parts of 16 U.S. states. The ancient amphibians, which have existed for more than 160 million years, can grow to more than two-feet long and live for up to 50 years in captivity.

Hellbenders have seen a sharp decline in numbers since the 1980s and despite US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) recovery plans, the decline has continued. The Ozark hellbender was listed as endangered in 2011, after a 75% decline in population and the USFWS is now conducting an assessment to determine whether or not the eastern hellbender needs to be added to the list as well.

“These are animals that live up to 30 years in the wild, so if you have populations declining, that alerts us that there could be a problem with the water quality,” Rod Williams, a Purdue University associate professor of herpetology who’s tracked Indiana’s hellbenders for nearly a decade told CBS News.

Designating the eastern hellbender as endangered would allow for federal funds to help protect the animals habitat and aid in their recovery.

Currently projects are underway to breed the salamanders in captivity and release them back into the wild and residents who live near running water are being asked to plant trees and grass on the river and stream banks to reduce pollution levels. Public education campaigns are also underway to help people appreciate and protect one of North Americas oldest living species.

“If nothing else, if people don’t appreciate the animal for itself, that it has value to the world, then it can serve as a messenger. It can tell us what’s going on in the river,” said Trisha Crabill, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.