In the heart of the Country of Mexico, in Mexico City, there is a system of canals called Lake Xochimilco (pronounced so-chee-mill-koh). This high altitude, shallow, fresh water system, that used to be a massive lake, is the last remaining habitat for wild Axolotls. Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) are an animal that has become very popular the past few years, and for good reason, they are adorable! However, due to the introduction of invasive species, pollution, the exotic pet trade, and severe habitat loss, Axolotls have become critically endangered.
Axolotls are a special kind of salamander, also known as “Mexican walking fish”, who have a unique feature called neoteny. This means that unlike many other salamanders, when Axolotls are fully grown they keep their “larval” features (like their gills) which stay on the outside of their body, and they stay fully aquatic for their entire lives.
Axolotls are most well known for their adorable faces that look like they are always smiling, and their vibrant, unique pink color! However, did you know that most Axolotls are not pink? Instead, Axolotls in their wild habitats tend to be brown, black, and grey with various patterns and speckles. This is so that they can camouflage with their surroundings, like many other salamander species do. Pink and white Axolotls are very rare in the wild.
Axolotls are carnivorous, and will eat all sorts of small prey like bugs, small fish, frogs, crustaceans, and even worms, which they eat whole in one large gulp and digest slowly. They live for about 5 years in the wild, and, most miraculously, they are able to fully regrow their body parts! Thanks to special cells they have, they can perfectly regrow legs, tails, gills, eyes, and even parts of their spine!
Axolotls are very special creatures and used to thrive in many different parts of Mexico, however, they have lost much of their habitat, so they are only found now in Lake Xochimilco. So why is it that it is common to see them in pet stores? Unfortunately, due to their adorableness, and unique colors (which are a result of albinism and leucism, which affects the pigment of their skin and eyes) they have become very popular and many people want to keep them as pets. However, this means that Axolotls are captured and taken from their homes to be sold as pets, which shrinks their wild population even more.
So how can you help? Don’t buy Axolotls in pet stores, and discourage others from doing so too! We know they are adorable, however, the more people purchase Axolotls from pet stores, the more Axolotls are taken from the wild. Axolotls belong in their natural habitat, and with population numbers so low, it is important to do all we can to help keep them safe. So please, instead of purchasing Axolotls, there are many more ways to show your love for them! You could even become a biological researcher who one day works to help save Axolotl habitat.
We all love Axolotls, so let’s help them thrive in their natural habitat!
