AJOLOTE

The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a neotenic salamander. It’s not a really common
animal, but it’s still in serious danger of extinction.

The axolotl is endemic to Mexico and it used to live in Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco in
central Mexico. Unfortunately, these two lakes don’t exist anymore.

Nowadays, there are two different types of Axolotl: Ambystoma mexicanum and Ambystoma
bombypellum. We can find the first kind in the south of Mexico and
the second near San Martín village, only.

It looks like a big tadpole with four legs and a tail. His colour can change between dark brown to
almost white. Usually, wild axolotls are dark and captive ones are pale. On average, it measures
25.7 cm from the head to the tail and weights 85 g.

The axolotl is carnivorous, consuming small prey such as worm, insect, and small fish in the wild.
They locate food by smell.

Why is the axolotl endangered? It is, of course, because of human action.

Humans introduce new animals like koi and carassius to the axolotl’s environment and they
represent a predator for (them). New animals eat young axolotls and their eggs, so (they)
gradually disappear.
Humans also use axolotls on their diet, because of his regeneration ability and just because of his
appearance (people like them because they are really cute and sometimes it seems that they are
smiling)

To sum up, we humans have to control and be responsible of the hunting of axolotls and it will no
longer be and endangered animal.