#ambystoma mexicanum

[thoughtlessarse]

Reproduction of the mountain stream axolotl — a salamander on the brink of extinction that lives only in Central Mexico — has been successful under human care for the first time ever, the Environment Ministry of Mexico City (Sedema) announced this week. This significant milestone occurred about 25 kilometers southwest of Mexico City in a protected natural area of the Desierto de los Leones National Park, where a “maternity ward” was set up for the amphibians. In February, Sedema recorded the first instance of egg laying by the axolotls in their facility. The team of caregivers then monitored the embryonic development of over 70 eggs, employing a specialized infrastructure designed to ensure optimal growth conditions. The El Pantano Wildlife Conservation Management Unit includes independent enclosures that function as “cradles,” where the larvae are meticulously observed and provided with the necessary resources for their development. After nearly three months of monitoring, the babies began to emerge, each less than 2 centimeters long. Now, the hatchlings (Sedema did not reveal their numbers in its press release) are being kept under constant monitoring, because the survival rate of axolotl offspring in the wild is usually very low. This species of axolotl (Ambystoma altamirani) measures about 23 centimeters long (9 inches) but can grow up to 30 centimeters (12 inches). Characterized by a dark, thin body often speckled with brown, black and white.

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[ketoverkill]

this is my gripe /ref

[scottpartridge]

Axolotl

[gab-has-adhd]

Please look at my babies ♡

Picture 1: Undyne, a leucistic axolotl, 8 yo. She's missing 2 gills due to a mycosis outbreak when she was very tiny. She's the most fierce of the tank ♡ namesake: Undyne from Undertale.

Picture 2: The wild axolotl is Diego, 8 yo, Undyne's sibling. Hefty baby ♡ I love his depigmented spots! We're keeping an eye on his weight. Axolotls eat even when they aren't hungry, so... :') namesake: Diego Brando from Steel Ball Run.

The leucistic axolotl is Misty, 4 yo. Either Undyne or Diego's child. They produced eggs back when we had a male axolotl named Gamzee, who unfortunately died. I kept Misty and watched her grow. Crazy to think that she used to fit in a tablespoon 🥺 namesake: Lizard Misty from Saint Seiya.

The three of them are females!

[batmanbeyondrocks]

Axolotl 🦄

Credit: 1 Minute Animals@1minuteanimal

Original Sound - 1minuteanimals

[aquariuminfobureau]

The tragedy of the axolotl

The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a species of tiger salamander indigenous to Mexico, and specifically to a few connected lakes in that country, located near Mexico City. It is in fact the most famous and best studied of the tiger salamander complex, which have a tendency towards axolotl-like paedomorphosis, a fact that confuses taxonomists. Mature axolotls retain larval traits such as external gills, whilst developing those features of an adult salamander, such as gonads enabling them to reproduce without a terrestrial stage. A full sized axolotl may be about 30 centimetres or 12 inches long, though they are frequently sold when much smaller.

The original, wild morph of the axolotl, which is still bred in captivity, is of a dark coloration. However a number of captive morphs have been bred, and it is white axolotls that are most common in aquariums worldwide. The strain of white axolotl encountered is not usually albino, but technically leucistic. Other domesticated strains bred by humans include golden, piebald, etc. Axolotls are sometimes traded in North America, as the Mexican walking fish, although they are not fish, but very obviously amphibians. Another name for this species, is the Mexican salamander, derived from their geographical origins.

Axolotls were known to the Aztecs and had a significance in the Aztec culture. The very name of the axolotl, is one of the words that has entered our own English language, from Classical Nahua, the language of the Aztec Empire or Old Mrxico. The etymology of the word axolotl is a compound of atl, meaning water, and xolotl, meaning a male servant or a dog. Thus a translation of 'water dog' also entered the English language, though it transferred to an unrelated, but visually similar salamander genus, Necturus, that also possesses similar external gills, and an entirely aquatic life cycle. These traits have, in fact, evolved a number of times among the salamanders.

Axolotls were harvested for food by the Aztecs, depicted in their art, and mentioned in their mythology - there was even a canine god named Xolotl, who turned himself into an axolotl, in an effort to save himself from Ehecatl, the wind god, at the origin of the Fifth Sun. Thus axolotls were incorporated into an Old Mexican symbolic nexus, that also included dogs, death, and lightning. The Spanish were unimpressed by the axolotl, and the species doesn't have such an esteemed place in the modern Mexican culture, as it had in Old Mexico. Modern Mexico has allowed the habitat of the axolotl to degrade, and its population size to collapse.

The wild axolotl is best associated with the lake named Xochimilco, and the anthropogenic waterscape known as chinampas. Historically the axolotls adapted to human presence by colonizing this system of canals which were created and managed by people before the Spanish conquest. Wild axolotls are known to still be present in these canals. Unfortunately, a number of more contemporary human activities, have since harmed wild axolotl populations, and the species has declined until it is nowadays close to extinct in the wild.

Lake Xochimilco is an upland freshwater environment, near Mexico City. Its parameters are hard and alkaline, and its climate zone is subhumid and temperate. Depending on the season, the temperature of Lake Xochimilco varies from 8 degrees centigrade in the winter, sometimes dropping lower, and up to 18 degrees in the summer. Unfortunately the lake itself, is a threatened environment of Mexico. Another lake inhabited by axolotls, Lake Chalco, has already been drained as a flood protection measure. And it is assumed the species is now absent from the lakes Texcoco and Zumpango.

Axolotls are easily maintained at a pH of 7.0 to 9.2, and water temperatures of 16 to 23 degrees C, based on the literature. Temperatures above 24 degrees centigrade may be harmful to them, although conversely they have survived short spells in outdoor ponds during the wintertime, as long as the winter is not too severe nor the freezing period prolonged. Axolotls are thus unsuited to life in tropical aquarium conditions, and are best considered coldwater aquarium inhabitants.

During a heatwave affecting the Netherlands, some axolotls were reportedly behaving as normal, when the air temperature had risen to 27 degrees centigrade. They did not cease feeding, nor did they hang around the water surface more closely, as did some of the other aquatic salamanders. A closely related species, A. tigrinum, was also withstanding the same brief hot spell. Perhaps some axolotls have better tolerances for temporary warmth than do others, owing to their status as members of captive bred strains. But it should be stressed that this was an unusual, and temporary, summertime situation for the axolotls.

Axolotls are entirely aquatic, and no land portion is required or desirable in their captive habitat. Their natural environment is full of freshwater plant life, which should be replicated, but this species is likely to consume any motile animal, that it might fit into its maw. Another problem is that the delicate but neccessary gills of the axolotl, and other amphibians with such external gills, might be bitten and damaged by other tankmates. Overall this species does not mix well with other species of aquarium inhabitants.

Axolotls are not sociable, and although more than one axolotl can share an aquarium, if the available space is permitting, there is a risk of aggression and injury. Cohabiting two or more axolotls should only be attempted if the aquarium is large enough, with breakages to their lines of sight. Although axolotls are suction feeding predators, their bites can hurt and injure one another. Because their skin is soft they should not be exposed to sharp edged stones or gravels. On the positive side, axolotl physiology is very resistant to injury, but this is no excuse for failure to prevent them coming to harm.

Axolotls are carnivores with a natural diet of freshwater prey that are low in fats and oils. Most of them will accept sinking pellets as for carnivorous fishes, if they are soft enough to appeal to the axolotls. The most suitable foods are probably the items sold frozen for aquarium fishes, but they will also eat items from the fishmongers. Because axolotls are suction feeders, which should be expected of a salamander feeding underwater, all morsels of food should easily for into their mouths, whatever is their nature and origin. Many pet axolotls die from internal organ failures, caused by humans feeding them improperly on land vertebrate meat. The bulk of their natural diet, is of arthropod, annelid, and molluscan origin.

[graahuxz]

The axolotl / Axolote mexicano

Sketchbook (2017-2020)

WINSOR & NEWTON

Cartridge sketch pad

White drawing cartridge / Papel de dibujo blanco

A4 110g

[miscellaneous-geekery]

I'm always happy to see folk appreciate axolotls (and other amphibians). Wild axolotls, once common enough to be a regular part of the Aztec diet, are now nearly extinct due to habitat loss, water pollution, and predation by invasive species. As amphibians, they are especially sensitive to polluted water due to their permeable skins, making them an ecological indicator species.

Captive axolotls are kept as pets, and used in research as @kellygreeny mentioned. They are amazing beasties. According to SanDiegoZoo.org: They are also used in laboratories to study another superpower: regenerating their limbs, lungs, heart, jaws, spines, and even parts of their brain!

Hi,

You once said, you like to see our pets. Here are my little axolotl, which I got as eggs and care for them until now. That wasn't an easy job. But these animal are so amazing. They can grew their limps, part of organs and even parts of their brains back like there was nothing. And we research this ability and in the future we might be able to copy that.

Aren't they cute?

They are cute. I like the beady little eyes. Good on you for having the discipline to raise them from eggs. Their regenerative abilities are very interesting. I hope those secrets can be unlocked.

I'm all for the ability to regrow limbs.

[followthebluebell]

Kleptogenesis, as in the salamanders steal genes? Tell me more

Yes! It's absolutely fascinating.

ok, so most species in the genus Ambystoma (mole salamanders) can cross-breed in very specific ways, which can result in entirely new all-female species. This is actually why axolotls are illegal to own in California; there's a lot of concern that released/escaped axolotls could cross-breed with the native tiger salamander, which is already vulnerable due to habitat loss and habitat fragmentation.

Fun note! Captive-bred axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) owe their existence to this ability to cross-breed! The fun colors we see in captive bred axolotls are thought to be the result of cross-breeding with other ambystoma species, especially the tiger salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum). This is also why captive-bred pet axolotls don't hold much ecological value. They literally have genes that don't exist in the wild axolotl.

but anyway, back to the lesbian salamander species. There are lots and LOTS of these unisexual ambystoma species--- tbh, I shouldn't use the word 'species'. They're technically considered biotypes now, but 'species' is the word most people recognize more easily so it's the word i'm going to use.

During kleptogenesis, a female salamander just sidles on up to some suitable looking male and accepts his sperm packet. Then she just opens it up and rifles through it, looking for the genes she wants to use and discards the others. She can do this with MULTIPLE males of MULTIPLE species, as long as she's already got some of their DNA in her lineage. Some hybrid ambystoma have the dna of up to five other species! The end result of this form of reproduction is always female.

There's also some unisexual species like the silvery salamander that just... straight up don't use the genetic material at all, but still collect sperm packets. It's believed that the sperm packets stimulate egg development, even though they don't donate any genetic material.

You can loosely compare it to the fictional all-female species asari from Mass Effect.

[sunniskyies]

𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐝 || 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐎𝐧𝐞-𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭

𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭: - 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲: Reader forgets she has Ford’s mind reading device on… 𝐏𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: Ford Pines x fem!shy!reader 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬: - 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬: Makeout, fluffy shy stuff 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭: 2k 𝐀/𝐍: This is so so so out of my league with this kind of thing, but I had a vision and had to try, so forgive me if it’s not the best !! ( you can read this as young or old Ford by the way ! )

“Are you going to tell me what exactly that is?” You ask shyly, perched neatly on a wooden stool in the deepest room of Ford’s laboratory. The man in question is bustling around the benches, plugging in wires and fiddling with dials and buttons.

“It’s a mental-strengthening device, able to encrypt one’s thoughts to prevent dream demons like Bill Cipher from entering.”

You purse your lips. “Ah. Of course.”

Ford looks briefly over at you while he tinkers. “I don’t want any chance of that creature making his way into our world. The damage he causes is… irrevocable.”

You fall silent, quietly studying the scientist’s practised hands and that little furrow in his brow you doubt he’s aware of. You see it often, in your stolen glances as you set his coffee down in the mornings, or when his eyes linger for a moment on his work when you call for his attention.

You let yourself sit in the warm feeling that spreads through your skin, toying with the fantasy of him for just a moment. Before you know it, Ford is approaching you with a gadget in his hands, and you’re pushing those silly thoughts from your mind.

“This is the receiver,” Ford explains, gesturing to the sieve-like helmet in his hands. “May I put it on you?”

All you manage is a ‘mhm’, and you hope your ears aren’t bright red when Ford places the bronze contraption over your hair. As he adjusts it here and there his fingers often brush your skin, you’re mortified as goosebumps shiver over your skin. Luckily, from what you know about Stanford Pines, he isn’t the most observant man unless you happen to have three eyes or an off-on switch.

Being Ford’s assistant has been the best opportunity of your life, but childishly you often wish for something more. To see those lips say your name not just to thank you for your helping hands. To have the confidence to show Ford the book of research you’ve been privately gathering, his eyes catching yours as he realises the potential he’d never seen in you before…

For the millionth time reality pulls you from your daydreams. Ford crouches down slightly, your faces level, your eyes on his while his are at your hairline. A six-fingered hand gently tucks loose strands back from your face.

“There,” he says, eyes catching yours. “Equipped. How does that feel?”

You swallow, voice a tad too squeaky, “All good!” 

“Perfect. I’ll begin the calibration, inform me if you experience any discomfort,” he nods, satisfied, before sweeping away again.

As you wait, you silently tap on your knees, looking around. You look over the table behind you to see a television screen with—

Your thoughts.

A string of your most embarrassing ideas visualised on a ceiling-high collection of screens, unarguably clingy and desperate desires paired with Ford’s name scrolling everywhere.

You whip your gaze over to Ford, dew already appearing over your skin. He seems to be engrossed in whatever's in his hands, but it’s only a matter of time before he sees all… that!

Fuck, fuck, fuck! The screens mirror the chant in your mind.

You try vainly to think of other things, random words and imagery slowly but surely creeping onto the televisions. Polar Bears. Adjectives. Pencils, pens, markers. Dates and historical impact of various civil wars. Charity raffles. That one catchy jingle. Discombobulation. Ambystoma mexicanum.

Ford looks up. “Finished!” He says with a quick smile.

You quietly clear your throat. “Uhm. Wow! This is very clever, Ford, although I must admit didn’t realise it displayed the user's consciousness?”

His eyebrows raise at your question, before his face softly twists with confusion as he stares at the reading. He glances back over at you with the face of someone just realising how stupid something is. Yet, you almost slump with relief. At least he only thinks you're simple, not a freak.

“Well, yes, it does. Did I not mention that?” He says slowly. “I was going to suggest you exercise your brain to ensure the program reaches every aspect of your cognition… but it seems you’re… already… doing that?” He questions hesitantly. Your smile is too-bright.

“Oh, yes, that is what I am doing. Yep.” You squeak.

“Right.”

The silence is palpable, a thick sludge that clings to your form. Sometimes both your wandering stares slide over each other, awkward blips before you both avert eye contact. You hear the hum of machinery, the soft tap of your shoe on the floor. Your fingers itch to grab your journal from your pocket to give yourself something to do with your hands, but you’re embarrassed at what Ford would see as you ponder over it. The silence stretches on and on, until you can’t bear not to break it.

“So, you, uhm, said something about exercising the mind?” You blurt sheepishly.

Ford’s eyes are immediately on you. “Yes! Yes, just try to keep your mind active, it helps the protection process.”

And the silence is back. Perhaps even worse than before.

Desperate for relief, you pull your journal from your pocket. You wave it weakly, “Mind if I do some work?”

Ford adjusts his glasses. “No, no of course not. Go ahead.” He gestures at the various desks stationed around the room. You shoot him a quick smile and spin on your stool to the table next to you, propping open the journal and continuing an essay you plan to submit as a paper in your current university course.

This works, taking your mind off your vulnerability as you focus on your work. This is what you love about science, about academia, the ability to lose yourself in something so complex, so worthwhile. You really can’t wait to get your research out there and make a name for yourself.

You write for a while, pen often times balanced between teeth. You don’t quite register Ford coming up behind you until his tilted head is in your peripheral.

“Fantastic,” he mutters absently, his face well and truly absorbed on the open page. Embarrassed, you half-heartedly cover the page with your hands.

“Oh, no, it’s really not anything special.” You mumble, eyes averted. 

“No, really, I love it. You’re studying quantum physics, right?” He insists, head tilted trying to catch his eye. When you do, he has a soft smile painted on. Your cheeks glow pink.

“Yes, I major in quantum physics and forensic science. I minor in biomedical engineering, and I’m additionally doing an online paper on parapsychology with the only university that does it, in, uh, Finland.” The sparkle in Ford’s eyes grows as you timidly recite your areas of study.

“Parapsychology? That’s brilliant!” He remarked, awed. “Why didn’t you say that, I would love to take you out on my field days. I study all sorts of paranormal and supernatural activity here. It'd be great to share it with someone.”

“Oh, I don’t want to trouble you,” you say hushed, fending off a stammer. Internally, your heart is soaring. Yes yes yes!

“It’d be no trouble,” he says earnestly, soft features returned as if coaxing you out of your shell. “I knew you were smart, but I had no idea the extent,’ he says, almost to himself.

Your eyes lock on him immediately. “You think that?”

He seems surprised. “Of course I do. You’re an exceptional assistant, and you’ve been in study for ages. I’ve heard nothing less than great things about when I send my own work to our local university. Not many scholars live out here, you know?”

You can’t drag your eyes away from him, and you're sure Ford can see every star in the galaxy swirling in your pupils right now. This is everything, everything you’ve wanted.

You’re not sure whether it’s the surge of confidence, or the way Ford’s looking so gently at you, but you’re acutely aware of how low Ford has bent down to talk to you. It would only take a small movement to bring your faces together.

And so, heart fluttering with this moment of bravery, you rise slightly up on the balls of your feet and press a small kiss to Ford’s cheek.

“Thank you,” you breathe, the sensation in your chest borderline sickening. “It, uh, means a lot.”

Ford doesn’t say a word, eyes wide but painfully unreadable. The silence is once again, stifling.

“Not a lot of fellow scientists in this area, like you said,” You hastily ramble on after a long moment. The gap doesn’t last this time, though.

In a swift motion Ford’s hand is at your cheek. You barely have time to inhale before his lips are on yours, their warmth sinking against your mouth.

You’d never imagined them to be so firm, although his proximity doesn’t give your mind any room to think about anything. It’s all happening so fast, your mind dizzied as you reciprocate his intentful kisses.

Your pen clatters slightly on the table as your hand releases it, quickly gripping to Ford as his arms snake around you and lift you up. He spins, setting you on the table in the middle of the room. You’re sure at some point you have or will let slip an embarrassing sound, but you’re wholly focused on Ford and how you’re sitting at his level on the tall table; him standing before you with his hands at your waist. Your knees brush either side of his thighs.

Your hands bury themselves in his hair, his hands in turn pull you closer. It’s eager and messy, making your pulse thud wildly. You never thought a man would want you like this, never catching an eye. Let alone the genius that is—

Abruptly, his lips leave yours, the emptiness not lasting long as they move just beneath your lip, then down to your jaw. They trail down to the side of your neck, lips brushing over the shiver on your skin. Small breaths leave your mouth when you feel a glimmer of teeth against your collarbone.

You tilt your head, resting against his where he’s kissing your shoulder in the crook of your neck. Your hands remain tangled in his hair, your eyes closed.

Your bodies are so close together, his lips are all-consuming. It’s bliss. The man you’ve loved for so long, holding you like he’s besotted. Like he’s just as infatuated as you. The thought thrills through your mind; He wants me.

“I can assure you, I most certainly do,” Ford murmurs breathlessly against your skin. You pause, the statement uncannily sounding like a response to your thought…

Oh. Oh no.

The machine. The mind reading. The television directly behind your back.

You haltingly turn your head, face pale. The screen is, in fact, still reciting your thoughts. Every thought. And Ford’s facing it.

“Oh my god,” You groan, palming your forehead. You sink into yourself, drowning in humiliation. But Ford’s hand fishes beneath your chin, tipping your glowing face to look at him. His face is one of endless kindness beneath his mussed hair.

“It’s really not a bad thing, sweetness.” He says gently. You shake your head slightly, eyes squeezing shut.

His thumb creeps up the side of your face, face dipping level to yours. “No, seriously. It’s a very encouraging thing for a man to see.” He jokes warmly. You peek an eye open. Heavens, did he have to look so irresistibly handsome all the time?

“Should I, uhm, remove…” you gesture at the contraption atop your head, teeth worrying your lip.

Ford hesitates for a moment, thinking as his thumb strokes your cheek. “No. No, it’s too important. I can’t have Bill infiltrating your mind.” 

You wilt slightly, but Ford once again brings you back to him. “It’ll only take a moment. Half an hour at most.” His eyes flicker fleetingly at your lips. “And besides, it’ll be sunset by then. I hear you can see a meteor shower tonight? If you drive up the hill a little.”

You hum a soft confirmation, smile melting onto your flushed features as Ford presses a last kiss to your cheek. “Good,” He murmurs. “I’ll go fetch the coats.”

𝐓𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭: @sleeplessdreamer14 @2hiigh2cry @taffycandyqt @papi-machucha @muffin1304

 @space1crow @fries11 @yasuuuudere @shadowsandswords @darling-eos

@bloodspatteredprincess @snake-in-a-flower-crown @defmxl @ryanthatsgay2

© sunniskyies 2024, do not repost or translate my work

[great-and-small]

In your journey to cultivate yourself as a person, it is of utmost importance to choose your favorite species of mole salamander. You never know when someone will ask, as this question is a common ice-breaker in many social circles. If you don’t already have a favorite Ambystomid salamander in mind, feel free to select one of my favorites for your personal use.

[have-you-seen-this-animal]

Do Axolotls plz, did you know they bark and make noise?

I have seen a video of them making a noise! I wonder how they do it.

[herpsandbirds]

Im such a massive herpsandbirds fan your posts bring me so much joy!

that is because you have a impeccable taste.

as a reward, here are some special friends...

Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), family Ambystomatidae, found in lakes and wetlands in and around Mexico City, Mexico

CRITICALLY ENDANGERED.

Originally found in several lakes and wetlands where Mexico City now stands. When these lakes were drained, the Axolotls lost much of their habitat. They now also suffer from pollution/run off.

These aquatic salamanders are neotenic (or paedomorphic), retaining juvenile/larval anatomy into adulthood, such as gills.

Most salamanders in this family are terrestrial.

photograph by aureapterus

photograph by LaDameBucolique

[koreo100percentnotstalker]

KINITO THE AXOLOTL FACTS!!!

Because I am nerdy when it comes to animals!!!

(and maybe science...)

AXOLOTLS, (AMBYSTOMA MEXICANUM) ONLY LIVES IN A SINGLE LAKE IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD, LOCATED AT MEXICO! (LAKE XOCHIMILCO)

THIS COULD MEAN KINITO IS MEXICAN!!!

THEIR MAIN DIET INCLUDES EARTHWORMS, BLOOD WORMS, INSECTS AND FISH! (They are carnivores!)

(It is dangerous for them to eat mammal meat though!!)

THEY DONT HAVE ANY EYE-LIDS!!! SO THEY SLEEP WITH THEIR EYES OPEN!!!

(Kinito DOES have eye lids...)

KINITO LOST A LIMB? DONT WORRY, HE CAN GENERATE A NEW ONE! THAT IS EVERY AXOLOTL'S SUPER POWER!!!

EXTRA NOTES=

⚠️Never, ever, never bring an axolotl into any oceans!!! THE FLOWING WATER DOES MAKE THEM STRESSED AND AFRAID!

⚠️NEVER ADD ANY FISH IN AN AQUARIUM WITH AXOLOTLS!!!

FISH CAN HARM AND EAT SOME PARTS OF AXOLOTLS BECAUSE THEIR GILLS AND TOES LOOK LIKE WORMS TO THEM!

⚠️ALOE VERA IS DANGEROUS FOR AXOLOTLS, IT IS TOXIC FOR THEM!

[nylmur]

Ambystoma mexicanum (critically endangered).

Axolotl are this cool that they are able to keep their larva form all their life long, we call this phenomenom "neoteny". If they ever proceed to evolve, they will turn into salamender and will no longer be able to live under water. These amphibians are also known for their great regeneration abilities.

[amnhnyc]

“I’m baby.” Most salamanders start their lives in water and grow up to live on land. Not the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)! This unique critter is a neotenic amphibian, meaning it retains most of its juvenile features into adulthood—including frilly gills and dorsal fins. What’s more? The axolotl lives permanently in water, breathing primarily through its gills rather than its rudimentary lungs. Found only in Lake Xochimilco in the Valley of Mexico, this rare amphibian is threatened in the wild by pollution, overfishing, and other human activities. Photo: John P Clare, CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, flickr #nature #axolotl #biodiversity #science https://www.instagram.com/p/CpShZKSrFyK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=