Presentation

The axolotl has lizard-like limbs, branching gills protruding from both sides of
the head, and a nature-made smile that is unusually cute. The Axolotl is
commonly called the “Mexican salamander,” or “Mexican walking fish,” even
though the axolotl is not a fish at all, but an amphibian. Wild axolotl are found
exclusively in Xochimilco, Mexico they can be found all over the world as
domesticated or captive animals.

Physical characteristics

Domestic axolotls were specially bred to display a white body coloration, paired
with black eyes, but wild axolotls are normally black or a greenish brown, with
red eyes. This species’ fancy headdress is actually the salamander’s gills, which
allow the creature to breath under water. The axolotl is large compared to most
salamanders, reaching up to 12 inches (30 cm) in length, and weighing up to 8
ounces (225 g).

The axolotl has a rare physical trait called neoteny, meaning the amphibian
keeps the tadpole-like dorsal fin that was present during the animal’s larval life
cycle stage. The axolotl differs from most salamanders, as the axolotl prefers to
make the water its permanent habitat. However, if environmental factors
require the amphibian to do so, the axolotl can make its body progress into
adulthood to adapt to life on land.

Habitat

In the wild, the axolotl amphibian’s favorite home is at the bottom of

Xochimilico’s canals and lakes. The Mexican salamander often makes a shelter
of reeds, or rock structures for security. In captivity, the axolotl is kept in a
temperature-controlled aquarium, furnished with artificial plants, rocks, and
areas in which to hide, to mimic its natural habitat.

Origin

When the Aztecs settled the Valley of Mexico in the 13th century, they found
a large salamander living in the lake surrounding the island where they built
their capital, Tenochtitlán. They called the salamander "axolotl" after Xolotl,
their god of fire and lightning. Xolotl was said to have transformed into a
salamander, among other forms, to avoid being sacrificed so the sun and
moon could move in the sky. He was eventually captured and killed.
Feeding

Native to the canals and waters of the Xochimilco region

in Mexico, axolotls feed on whatever small animals are
available to them in their natural habitat.
Axolotls feast on insects, worms, slugs, small
crustaceans, crickets, mosquito larvae, smaller
salamanders, frog tadpole, and even smaller fish they
can swallow.
They operative word here is swallow, because axolotls do
indeed swallow their food. Axolotls feed by opening their
mouths wide and sucking in water along with their prey.
Because the same types of protein-rich foods are
available for aquarists raising axolotls in captivity, it’s not
difficult to meet their nutritional needs that are raised in a
home aquarium.

Why is it endangered
The leading causes of Axolotl decline are
human development, waste water
disposal, and loss of habitat due to
droughts.
Despite their prevalence in the aquarium trade, these species are critically
endangered in the wild. These charismatic creatures have endured sustained
habitat loss such that they now occupy a small fraction of their original range.

Habitat destruction
As a result of climate change, these species will continue to
experience decreases in suitable natural habitats due to
droughts. Droughts have already eliminated one of their original
habitats, Lake Texaco, now in the middle of Mexico City with
buildings covering the original site. Lake Xochimilco is one of the
last suitable habitats for the Axolotl, but with changing climate
there is no guarantee how long it will last.

Ilegal trafficking

Fortunately some conservation efforts are underway. In 2006,

the species was listed as critically endangered by the
International Union for the Conservation of Nature and
continues to be protected under the Convention on
International Trade in Endangered Species agreement.13
Possible solutions

• The kind of work you might be doing ranges from cleaning up wetlands
where axolotls live, planting trees and vegetation to prevent
contaminated runoff from nearby farms, installing wooden gates to
separate invasive fish from axolotl populations, and tracking the axolotl
population in certain areas.