Axolotl's, also know as Mexican Walking Fish, are Critically Endangered in the wild, but still breed as pets. They are a type of salamander and live in a permanent larvae state. They can move up to 15km and hour. The name Axolotl comes from the Aztec language and means 'Water Dog'. These amazing amphibians can regrow their libs, lungs, heart, jaws, spines and parts of their brains. They are also over 1,000 times more resistant to cancer than mammals.
Habitat
Axolotls live in Mexico in still, freshwater lakes. They only inhabit 2 lakes that we know of, Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco.
Description
Axolotls live for between 10 and 15 years. They are between 15 and 45cm long and weigh between 56 and 226g. Mexican Walking Fish have dark colours skin with greenish mottling and may have silvery highlights. They have a flat body, a large head, lizard like limbs, feathery gills and round eyes with iridescent yellow irises.
Some Axolotl's have white skin with pink gills. These have been modified and breed as pets.
Diet
Axolotls eat worms, mollusks, crustaceans, insect larvae and even small fish.
Threats
Natural predators of the Axalotl include Storks, Herons and large fish like Carp and Tilapia. Their biggest threat is the urbanisation and pollution of the ponds that they live in.
How to help?
To attempt to help Axolotls, shelters are being build, and clean water pumped in to Lake Xochimilico.
References
San Diego Zoo - https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/axolotl
The Spruce Pets - https://www.thesprucepets.com/axolotls-as-pets-1236714
Smithsonian Magazine - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/saving-paradoxical-axolotl-180967734/
Animal Fact Guide - https://animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/axolotl/
ICUN Red List - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/1095/53947343
Axolotls live in Mexico in still, freshwater lakes. They only inhabit 2 lakes that we know of, Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco.
Description
Axolotls live for between 10 and 15 years. They are between 15 and 45cm long and weigh between 56 and 226g. Mexican Walking Fish have dark colours skin with greenish mottling and may have silvery highlights. They have a flat body, a large head, lizard like limbs, feathery gills and round eyes with iridescent yellow irises.
Some Axolotl's have white skin with pink gills. These have been modified and breed as pets.
Diet
Axolotls eat worms, mollusks, crustaceans, insect larvae and even small fish.
Threats
Natural predators of the Axalotl include Storks, Herons and large fish like Carp and Tilapia. Their biggest threat is the urbanisation and pollution of the ponds that they live in.
How to help?
To attempt to help Axolotls, shelters are being build, and clean water pumped in to Lake Xochimilico.
References
San Diego Zoo - https://animals.sandiegozoo.org/animals/axolotl
The Spruce Pets - https://www.thesprucepets.com/axolotls-as-pets-1236714
Smithsonian Magazine - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/saving-paradoxical-axolotl-180967734/
Animal Fact Guide - https://animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/axolotl/
ICUN Red List - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/1095/53947343