One of the most curious endemic species of Mexico for its resemblance to the salamander is the Axolotl. Although its scientific name alludes to this amphibian, both are different animals.
The word axotl comes from the Nahuatl word Xolotl , which was the name of the Aztec god of death, resurrection and games.
Description of the Axotl
The axotl is also known as "the fish walker" even though it is an amphibian. Its vertebrate has a broad head and round eyes without eyelids, as well as gills, short legs and a tail shaped like a fin that serves to swim. It even develops lungs.
The Axotl measure about 23 centimeters in length, but can grow to reach more than 30 centimeters. Therefore, they have a long, thin body of dark color often dotted with brown, black and white speckles. In captivity live some albino specimens but this condition does not occur in their natural habitat.
It is a neotenic species, which means that it retains characteristics of its larval stage when it has reached adulthood. Its appearance is similar to a salamander that did not become a salamander if so to speak.
Distribution and habitat of the Axotl
Its distribution is limited to the central zone of the Mexican Republic. Its habitat is in the lakes near Mexico City and in particular the lake Xochimilco since most of the central lakes no longer exist. As a result, their distribution has been considerably diminished.
The Axotl likes to live in the depths of the fresh waters and among the flora that exists there, at a temperature that fluctuates rarely above 20°C.
Behavior of the Axotl
Normally, the Axotl remains almost dormant in the lake bed during the day and sporadically leaves the surface of the water to breathe. At dusk he leaves his lethargy and goes in search of food.
The Axotls communicate with each other through chemical and visual signals but this occurs mostly during the mating period. Another way of communicating is through pheromones, also in the reproductive stage.
They are able to identify electric fields and capture their prey thanks to it and their ability to detect chemical signals.
Axotl's Feeding
It is carnivorous and feeds on animals smaller than itself, such as fish, worms and other insects that inhabit lakes. Basically, eat anything you can catch, which includes mollusks and other amphibians. If its in captivity, the Axotl is fed on other fish, worms and mosquito larvae.
To find its food it is guided by the smell. To ingest it, it absorbs it into his stomach.
An interesting fact: the Axotl has a tendency to satisfy its appetite with other Axtotls.
Reproduction of the Axotl
Between the ages of 12 and 18 months, the albino reaches sexual maturity and is therefore ready to reproduce.
When the female is ready, the male begins the procession by pushing the tail into the female's cloaca and both begin to move in circles. Later the male deposits on the rocks the spermatophores, which resemble soft cone-shaped packages containing the sperm. It is then that the female collects the spermatophores in her cloaca and in this way fertilizes their eggs.
24 hours later the female puts between the rocks and plants approximately 400 fertilized eggs that take in hatching of 10 to 14 days.
Threats to the Axotl
The Axotl is considered a "Critically Endangered" species by the IUCN Red List (International Union for the Conservation of Nature), primarily because of the decline in its natural habitat, capture for food of the human and animal population.
The greatest danger in the present lies in the contamination of Lake Xochimilco and the canals. However, there are efforts to increase the number of Axotls and improve their conditions. For example, the Ecological Park of Xochimilco houses a protected area for these amphibians that have the classification of Special Protection by the Mexican government.
All my image sources are from Google and Pinterest.
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