It looks dumb. I love it
Axolotl (latin: Ambystoma mexicanum), also known as Mexican Salamander or Mexican Walking Fish, is a neotenic salamander, closely related to Tiger Salamander. Don't let the name "walking fish" fools you, because this is NOT a fish. Axolotl is an amphibia, as I said clearly in the title. This creature was originated in Mexico, obviously. It was found in Lake Xochimilco and Chalco, Mexico City. The name originated from the Aztecs, "atl" means water and "xolotl" means monster. So, literally Axolotl means "water monster". What an edgy name for such a cute creature! Here is the scientific classification for Axolotl.
SCIENTIFIC CLASSIFICATION
Axolotl
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Urodela
Family: Ambystomadiae
Genus: Ambystoma
Species: Ambystoma mexicanum
Physical Description
The length of Axolotl can reach about 30 centimeters (12 inches), although the average length is 23 cm. The mass range is about 60 to 110 g. Axolotl's most notable physical feature is its gills, which protrude from the back of its wide head and remain there throughout adulthood. Its legs are short. It has four fingers on each of its front legs and five toes on each of its back legs. In the wild, its coloration is dark, but an albino variety has been bred in captivity.
Original Axolotl (the dark one) and its albino cousin (the white one)
Habitat
Axolotl is found in freshwater, especially lakes and ponds. However, it's only found in Mexico, specifically Lake Xochimilco. "But what about Lake Chilco?" you asked yourself. Yes, it was found in this lake as well, however, Lake Chalco no longer exists as it was artificially drained to avoid periodic flooding. The water temperature in Xochimilco rarely rises above 20 °C (68 °F), though it may fall to 6 to 7 °C in the winter, and perhaps lower. The average elevation of its habitat is 2290 m.
Axolotl is found in freshwater, especially lakes and ponds. However, it's only found in Mexico, specifically Lake Xochimilco. "But what about Lake Chilco?" you asked yourself. Yes, it was found in this lake as well, however, Lake Chalco no longer exists as it was artificially drained to avoid periodic flooding. The water temperature in Xochimilco rarely rises above 20 °C (68 °F), though it may fall to 6 to 7 °C in the winter, and perhaps lower. The average elevation of its habitat is 2290 m.
Diet
Axolotls are carnivores, implying they require a meat-based diet. They have rather rudimentary teeth, designed for gripping rather than biting or tearing. As a result, their food is generally swallowed whole, so anything they want to eat must fit into their mouths. They mostly eat earthworms, bloodworms, and blackworms. They are all very nutritious. If you keep Axolotl as a pet, you can also give them dried food such as soft salmon diet pellets.
Axolotls are carnivores, implying they require a meat-based diet. They have rather rudimentary teeth, designed for gripping rather than biting or tearing. As a result, their food is generally swallowed whole, so anything they want to eat must fit into their mouths. They mostly eat earthworms, bloodworms, and blackworms. They are all very nutritious. If you keep Axolotl as a pet, you can also give them dried food such as soft salmon diet pellets.
Reproduction
Axolotl's life cycle is neotenic/paedomorphic, which means that it retains larval characteristics in the reproductively mature adult form. Juvenile and adult axolotls possess feathery, external gills and tail fins suited to an aquatic lifestyle. Metamorphosis can be induced in axolotls via thyroid hormone injections. In the wild, axolotls rarely, if ever, metamorphose.
Axolotl eggs
Here's how axolotls mate. It first involves each animal nudging the other's cloacal region, eventually leading to a "waltz," with both animals moving in a circle. Next, the male moves away while undulating the posterior part of his body and tail (resembling a "hula dance"), and the female follows. The male will deposit a spermatophore (a cone-shaped jelly mass with a sperm cap) by vigorously shaking his tail for about half a minute, and will then move forward one body length. The female then moves over the spermatophore, also shaking her tail, and picks up the spermatophore with her cloaca. Eggs are surrounded by a protective jelly coat and are laid singly, unlike frog eggs (which are laid in clumped masses), because they possess higher oxygen requirements. They are often attached to substrates such as rocks or floating vegetation.
The picture above is a life cycle of an Axolotl. An axolotl has five stages in its life, not including death. Stage 1 is the embryo, which measures about 2 mm in diameter, and also the surrounding layers of jelly. Stage 2 is the embryo right before it hatches. In the second stage, the embryo is 11 mm in diameter. Stage 3 is the young larva before it has grown any limbs. An axolotls skin tends to be very thin and see-through when it is a larva for their first few weeks of life, or until the skin has thickened, so the organs are quite visible. After about two weeks, the larva reaches stage 4. Like other salamanders and unlike other frogs, the front legs come in first and the back legs develop second. At stage 5 the axolotl is a miniature adult. Axolotl stay in stage 5 for the rest of their lives until they die.
Smol
Axolotls breed once every year or anually. They mostly breed on March to June. The eggs hatch around 10 to 14 days. The average axolotls can start breeding when they are 1 years old.
Lifespan and Behaviour
Averagely, Axolotl can live 5 to 6 years old on wild, however they can live up to 6 years if they're on captive. Axolotls are nocturnal, which means they are active on the night. They communicate mainly by chemical cues and visual cues. They mostly communicate when mating. Other than that, they rarely communicate to each other. To detect prey and learn about their environment, axolotls can detect electrical fields and use chemical cues.
Uniqueness
Axolotls are often called "master of regeneration". I mean, most salamanders can, however, Axolotls are one of a kind. It can regenerate multiple structures like limbs, jaws, tail, spinal cord, skin and more without evidence of scarring throughout their lives. Axolotls can even receive transplanted organs from other individuals and accept them without rejection. You can cut the spinal cord, crush it, remove a segment, and it will regenerate. You can cut the limbs at any level - the wrist, the elbow, the upper arm - and it will regenerate, and it's perfect. There is nothing missing, there's no scarring on the skin at the site of amputation, every tissue is replaced. They can regenerate the same limb 50, 60, 100 times. And every time: perfect. Amazing, isn't it? As if that isn't incredible enough, the axolotl is also over 1,000 times more resistant to cancer than mammals. According to Professor Stephan Roy along with his team, here's how it works. One of the first steps that occur in the regenerative pathway after amputation is the process known as the de-differentiation of cells. These cells then create a structure known as a blastema, which is a rounded cover on the wound where the newly de-differentiated cells congregate. This structure then develops into a fully functional limb, with no sign of the previous damage. What a great creature! Professor Roy also stated that he and his team hoped that this regeneration mechanism can apply to a human. Possible, but maybe not now since the technology is limited.
Conversation Status
Axolotls are considered critically endangered by scientists. The number of Axolotl’s has been dramatically decreased over the past 20 years, there is only approximately an average of 700-1200 axolotl’s left in the wild! The main cause for this is the Axolotls decreasing habitat and introduced predators such as carp and tilapia dominating the little area they have left. Ever since these predators have been introduced to the lakes of Mexico the axolotls immediately began to struggle as it was being too heavily hunted upon. Also, just a reminder that Lake Chilco is gone because it was drained artificially, and Lake Xicomilcho is nothing but swamps and scattering canals nowadays. You can save axolotls by building canals for them so that they are safe from predators or keep them as a pet because it's perfectly legal and they make a good pet!Lifespan and Behaviour
Averagely, Axolotl can live 5 to 6 years old on wild, however they can live up to 6 years if they're on captive. Axolotls are nocturnal, which means they are active on the night. They communicate mainly by chemical cues and visual cues. They mostly communicate when mating. Other than that, they rarely communicate to each other. To detect prey and learn about their environment, axolotls can detect electrical fields and use chemical cues.
Uniqueness
A diagram about axolotl's regeneration
Axolotls are often called "master of regeneration". I mean, most salamanders can, however, Axolotls are one of a kind. It can regenerate multiple structures like limbs, jaws, tail, spinal cord, skin and more without evidence of scarring throughout their lives. Axolotls can even receive transplanted organs from other individuals and accept them without rejection. You can cut the spinal cord, crush it, remove a segment, and it will regenerate. You can cut the limbs at any level - the wrist, the elbow, the upper arm - and it will regenerate, and it's perfect. There is nothing missing, there's no scarring on the skin at the site of amputation, every tissue is replaced. They can regenerate the same limb 50, 60, 100 times. And every time: perfect. Amazing, isn't it? As if that isn't incredible enough, the axolotl is also over 1,000 times more resistant to cancer than mammals. According to Professor Stephan Roy along with his team, here's how it works. One of the first steps that occur in the regenerative pathway after amputation is the process known as the de-differentiation of cells. These cells then create a structure known as a blastema, which is a rounded cover on the wound where the newly de-differentiated cells congregate. This structure then develops into a fully functional limb, with no sign of the previous damage. What a great creature! Professor Roy also stated that he and his team hoped that this regeneration mechanism can apply to a human. Possible, but maybe not now since the technology is limited.
Conversation Status
As I mentioned before, one of the natural habitat of Axolotls is gone, which is Lake Chilco. It was drained artificially. Lake Xochimilco isn't much better either since currently it's just swamp and scattering canals. Due to this condition, Axolotls are classified as critically endangered. The number of Axolotl’s has been dramatically decreased over the past 20 years, there is only approximately an average of 700-1200 axolotl’s left in the wild! The main cause for this is the Axolotls decreasing habitat and introduced predators such as carp and tilapia dominating the little area they have left. Ever since these predators have been introduced to the lakes of Mexico the axolotls immediately began to struggle as it was being too heavily hunted upon. We can save axolotls by making canals so that they are save from predators or kept them as pet, which is perfectly legal.
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And that concludes the story of axolotls. A very cute and unique amphibia. I hope you can gain one or two information about axolotls after reading this post! See you later!
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QUESTIONS
1. What is the latin name of Axolotl?
Ambystoma mexicana.
2. Where can we found axolotl in the wild?
In Lake Chilco and Lake Xochimilco, Mexico City.
3. What does the term "axolotl" literally means?
Water monster.
4. How many breed of axolotl exist in the world?
2 breeds, which are the black one and the albino one.
5. Why is axolotl considered critically endangered?
Because their habitats are missing so predators such as tilapia and carp are able to hunt them easily.
--
QUESTIONS
1. What is the latin name of Axolotl?
Ambystoma mexicana.
2. Where can we found axolotl in the wild?
In Lake Chilco and Lake Xochimilco, Mexico City.
3. What does the term "axolotl" literally means?
Water monster.
4. How many breed of axolotl exist in the world?
2 breeds, which are the black one and the albino one.
5. Why is axolotl considered critically endangered?
Because their habitats are missing so predators such as tilapia and carp are able to hunt them easily.
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Source:
http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ambystoma_mexicanum/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axolotl
https://sites.google.com/site/axolotljc2013/axolotl-life-cycle
http://www.axolotl.org/feeding.htm
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/regeneration-the-axolotl-story/
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/guest-blog/regeneration-the-axolotl-story/
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