The Axolotl is a neotenic salamander and is also popular as one of the most unique and unusual species in the world. It is a Mexican walking fish but actually, it is not a fish. Yes, it is an amphibian. This unique is most commonly available in Mexico’s freshwater lakes and ponds.
Axolotl Baby Facts Overview
Habitat: Freshwater lakes & ponds
Location: Mexico
Size: 15 – 45 cm (6 – 18 inches)
Lifespan: 10 – 15 Years
Weight: 2 – 8 ounces (0.06 – 0.1 Kg)
Color: White, pink & dark brown
Top Speed: 15 kph (10 mph)
Diet: Worms, tadpoles, insects, small fish
Predators: Birds (storks & herons) & other large fish
Conservation Status:
Critically Endangered
The most unusual thing about axolotl is how they reach adulthood. They do not undergo metamorphosis, such as not developing legs and lungs, which usually happens in amphibians. The Mexican fish keeps its larval stage’s characteristics and retains aquatic life.
The axolotl is about 15 to 45 centimeters long at the adult stage. They grow to a weight of 0.06 to 0.1kg but sometimes reach up to 0.5kg in captivity. Axoloti mostly eats the smaller species in the water and focuses on the tiny mollusks, fishes, and arthropods. The diet of this Mexican fish might include additional freshwater creatures such as salmon eggs, terrestrial worms, and zooplankton.
This unique creature is considered a critically endangered species, and in fact, it is extinct because of habitat loss and the introduction of invasive species into its habitat.
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Interesting Axolotl Baby Facts
1. They have an amazing ability to regenerate body organs and lost limbs.
This is incredible, but axolotls can re-grow their lost limbs within a few weeks. Axooloti can even regenerate their heart, lungs, spinal cord, and part of the brain. If the Mexico walking fish goes through a head injury, it heals without scarring. A study by the University of Minnesota revealed that a protein known as c-Fos is essential for the axolotl’s regeneration process.
If you cut, crush, and remove a segment of the spinal cord, it can regenerate. Similarly, you can do the same with the limbs, the upper arm, the elbow, and the wrist, and they will regenerate. Even if no scarring occurs, every tissue is replaced with a new one. The tissue can regenerate 50, 60, and even 100 times, and every time they are perfect.
2. Axolotl can regrow the same limb up to 5 times.
There is a limit to how this unique creature can sometimes regrow its limbs. Scientists found that the limbs regrow five times, and after the fifth time, the scar formation started.
3. They have highly functional gills.
Mexican water fish have gills but also contain fully functional lungs. They usually rise to the surface for a gulp of air.
4. They are 1,000 times more cancer-resistant than any other mammal.
Scientists hope that we can eliminate cancer and increase the human lifespan with an axolotl baby.
5. These unique species are only found in Mexico.
The natural habitat of QAxoloti is the Xochimilco Lake, an older network of canals and lakes in southern Mexican cities. However, axolotl may also survive in water tanks, aquariums, and research labs worldwide.
6. They do not chew their doors; instead, they feed using suction.
This is something strange about them. They do this with the help of rakers and close the gill slits as food into their mouth. Axoloti are carnivorous and eat mostly insects, worms, tadpoles, and even the smaller freshwater fishes.
7. They use gravel to eat food.
During feeding, the gravel is usually combined with the small aquatic animals that suck into the mouth of Mexican walking fish. Moreover, the axolotl also uses gravel for the interior body to regulate buoyancy.
8. They have few predators.
There are only a few predators of this species, and have few competitors that love to enjoy the taste of axolotl. These species include Tilapia and Carp, which love to eat them.
9. Neoteny, their unique characteristic.
Neoteny is a term that is used to describe those species that keep their characteristics until they reach adulthood without passing through the many phases of the change.
10. Their name came from the Ancient Aztecs, who revered means water dogs.
This unique species has a mythological connection with the Xolotl, which has a dog-healed Aztec God in terms of mythology. Xolo was named the God of lightning, fire, death, and deformities. It is also known that the Xolotl was afraid of being transformed into a plant and then an axolotl to hide.
11. Male and female axolotl are easily distinguished.
Adult females have a round, plumpy body and have smaller cloaca than males. The female axolotl is smaller than the male one, but this does not always happen. While the adult male has a large and wide head with eyes that have no eyelids. Males also have longer tails than females and larger, swollen cloaca lined with papillae.
Four pigmentation genes in both males and females produce different colors during the mutation process. More common to find these water species in creatures in albino form because their skin is permeable.
12. Their breeding season starts early.
When the axolotl reaches about 6 months, it is now sexually mature. The breeding season of axolotl typically runs from March to June. Spawning occurs in winter when the levels and temperature are more temperate. Breeding in them usually occurs once a year, but sometimes, 2 and 3 breeding cycles are possible in axolotl.
13. Breeding initiates with a dance.
Breeding in the axolotl begins with the waltz, which is a dance. This dance serves as an initial phase of mating between the two. While both males and females dance in a circular motion, they rub their cloaca against each other’s cloaca. After vigorously shaking a tail, the male axolotl drops a cone-shaped sperm. The female picks up the sperm with her cloaca while shaking her tail, and fertilization begins.
14. Female axolotl lays numerous eggs covered in a protective sheet.
The female axolotl lays a huge number of eggs, about 300 to 1000, that deposit in the water. Each egg is attached to a substrate for protection. Most of the time, the female lays eggs on the plants to save them from predators. The eggs hatch in about 2 months, and the baby axolotls are independent of the moment they step out from the egg. In other words, parents do not have to do parenting; the axolotl baby quickly learns how to eat and even survive.
15. They are listed as critically endangered on the IUCN list.
Pollution and Desiccation are the main causes behind the continuous decline in the axolotl. Pollution and Desolation of the canal system in lakes in Chalco and Xochimilco are the result of urbanization that causes the extinction of this Mexican walking fish.
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Conclusion
Axoloti babies are rare and have some unique characteristics, as defined above. These are also important in the medical field and the international pet trade.
FAQs
How endangered are axolotls?
Axolotls are classified as critically endangered, emphasizing the need for conservation efforts.
What makes axolotls unique?
Axolotls possess neoteny, which allows them to retain juvenile features throughout their lives.
How many times can axolotls regenerate limbs?
Axolotls can regrow the same limb up to five times, showcasing their remarkable regenerative abilities.
Where are axolotls found?
Axolotls are exclusively found in Mexico, particularly in lakes and canals.
Why are they called “water dogs”?
The name “axolotl” is derived from the Ancient Aztecs, who referred to them as “water dogs” in their revered language.
How do axolotls feed?
Axolotls don’t chew their food; instead, they use suction for feeding, showcasing unique dietary habits.
What is the significance of axolotl gills?
Axolotls have highly functional gills, enabling them to breathe efficiently in aquatic environments.
Are axolotls resistant to cancer?
Yes, axolotls are about 1,000 times more cancer-resistant than any other mammal.
What role does gravel play in axolotl feeding?
Axolotls use gravel to aid in food consumption, demonstrating interesting feeding behavior.
How much do axolotls weigh on average?
The weight of axolotls can vary and is not commonly measured in kilograms. Their size and weight depend on various factors, including age and diet.
