DOCUMENTARY : AXOLOTL

HELLO READERS!

Axolotl, the cute and fascinating little ‘monster’ of México

Axolotl never undergo metamorphosis, that’s what makes this creature unique in its own way.

    Axolotl is a neotenic (juvenile) salamander and often classified as close relative to Tiger Salamander.

  The larvae of this species fail to undergo metamorphosis, so the adults remain aquatic and gilled.

  The species originates from various lakes, such as Lake Xochimilco underlying Mexico City.

  They are widely used in scientific research due to the fact they have the unique ability to regenerate limbs.

  A mature adult Axolotl, at age of 18-24 months, ranges in length from 15-45 cm.

  Axolotls possess features typical of salamander larvae, including external gills and a cauding fin extending from behind the head to the vent.

  Males are identified by their swollen cloacae lined with papillae, which females are noticeable for their water bodies full of eggs.

  They have wide heads and their eyes are lidless. Their limbs are underdeveloped and possess long, thin digits.

  Axolotls have barely visible vestigial teeth, which would have developed during metamorphosis. The primary method of feeding is by sunction, during which their rakers interlock to close the gill slits.

A cute albino axolotl.

   

Habitat and ecology

 The axolotl is the only inhabitant in the Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco in central Mexico.

  Unfortunately, Lake Chalco no longer exists as the result of periodic flooding and Lake of Xochimilco on the other hand, existing mainly as canals.

  The wild population has been put under heavy threat due to the growing of Mexico metropolitan city.

  Axolotls are also sold as food in Mexican market and were a tack in the Aztec diet.
  They are currently listed by CITES as an endangered species and by IUCN as critically endangered in the wild, with a decreasing population.
  The axolotl is carnivorous, feeding on small prey such as worms, insects and small fish in the wild.
  Axolotls locate food by smell and will "snap" at any quality meal, sucking their food into their stomachs with such vacuum force.

The habitat of Axolotl in Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco

Neoteny
 Axolotls possess a property called neoteny, meaning that they reach adult form without undergoing metamorphosis.
  Most of the axolotls species are either purely neotenic or have neotenic populations.
  The metamorphic failure is caused by a lack of thyroid stimulating hormone, which is to induce thyroid in order to produce thyroxin in transforming salamanders.
  Unlike some other neotenic salamanders, axolotls can be induced to metamorphose by injecting iodine or using thyroxin hormone.
  A neotenic axolotl will live in average of 10-15 years while a metamorphosed will barely live past of the age of five.

They never undergo metamorphosis and remains in larvae form

Mating and laying eggs
 Gardonuk, a commenter and also a pet keeper in Fish Tank Forum said "I woke up at 5 AM this morning to some splashing in the tank and got up to look what it was. Two of the axolotls had extremely swollen rear ends that was red in color and swimming around like they were possessed.

  He mentioned "The two that were swollen were sniffing each others red bits and lifting their tails to show off the swollen area. I also noticed that the tank was full of about a dozen white half moon things in a sort of jelly and even spotted one of them being ejected from the rear of one of them.

  "My third axolotl does not have a swollen area, only two of them, I had always presumed the two with the bigger swollen rears were males and the other one was female but now I am not sure.

  He continued "It seems that only the two with the swollen parts were interested in each other, sniffing and lifting their tails to each other, but the third one did not seem interested at all and was getting ignored by the other two.

  "The swollen area looked like it was turning inside out and very red, even the gills got really blood red.

  "I am guessing that the two with swollen parts are males and that they were depositing sperm but not 100% sure." he ended

An Axolotl's egg. Looks similar to frog's

 Regards,

Hazril Mdnor