Table 1.

Lesion scoring system used to quantify distal limb lesions in Ozark Hellbenders, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi.

SCORE	No. foot pads ulcerated	No. toes missing	No. toes shortened	No. toes swollen	Description
0	0	0	0	0	No observable distal limb lesions. Healed scars may be present. No active ulcerations or swelling.
1	0	0	0	1–5	1–5 swollen toes in one or two feet. No ulcerations on feet or toes. No shortened, fused, or missing toes
2	0	0	0	6–10	6–10 swollen toes affecting two feet. Toe tip ulcerations may be present. No shortened, fused, or missing toes
3	0–1	0	0	11–18	11–18 swollen toes affecting three or four feet. Toe tip ulcerations may be present. No shortened, fused, or missing toes. May have one footpad ulceration
4	0–1	0–1	1–5	1–17	1–5 shortened toes with 0–1 missing toes. Remaining toes swollen. May have one footpad ulceration
5	0–2	0–4	1–16	1–15	1–5 shortened toes with 2–4 missing toes OR 6+ shortened toes with zero missing toes. Remaining toes swollen. May have up to two footpad ulcerations.
6	0–2	5–18	1–13	1–13	5+ missing toes with up to two foot pad ulcerations
7	3–4	5–18	1–13	1–13	5+ missing toes with 3+ foot pad ulcerations.

Scores are from 0–7. A score of 0 (blue) represents no distal limb lesions observed. Mild scores in green (1–2) have some swollen toes only, moderate scores in yellow (3–4) have most toes swollen and some shortened. Severe scores in red (5–7) denote several toes shortened or missing.