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A salamander found in lakes and canals in the southern part of Mexico City, the axolotl is one of a kind and critically endangered in the wild.

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The axolotl is a kind of amphibian, specifically a salamander, that does not metamorphose naturally. Usually, amphibians have gills and live underwater when they are young, but then they lose their gills, develop lungs, and live on land as adults.

Axolotls, however, keep their gills and continue living in the water as adults. Their gills are their most recognizable trait because they look like wispy feathers.

Axolotls also develop lungs. Although their main method of breathing is through their gills, they occasionally use their lungs to breathe in air from the water's surface. Because they live in water their whole lives, they always have a tail and webbed feet for swimming.

Axolotls average 23 cm (9 in.) in length. They vary in color from pinkish to brownish green, and often appear to be smiling because of the shape of their mouth.

In the wild, axolotls are only found in one lake outside Mexico City, called Lake Xochimilco.

They will eat just about anything they can catch, including fish, worms, mollusks, and even insects on the surface of the water. They are preyed upon by perch and tilapia, both of which are invasive species, as well as birds.

In captivity, axolotls are very popular. They can be found in homes and aquariums all over the world. This is because they are hardy, easy to breed, and cute enough that many people want to own one.

Axolotls can also be found in research laboratories. They are studied because, like other salamanders, the axolotl has the extraordinary ability to regrow missing body parts. That means that if an axolotl loses a leg or a tail, it will regrow, including the bones, muscle, and skin. They can also regrow organs, something scientists hope they can apply to humans one day.

Axolotl Reproduction

Breeding events happen up to three times a year. This varies depending on whether the axolotls are in the wild or captivity. Regardless of location, the act remains the same. There is what appears to be a dance after which the female lays her eggs, between 300 and 1000! After only two weeks the eggs hatch and the babies are left on their own.

Conservation Status

Despite being abundant in captivity, axolotls are considered critically endangered by the IUCN Red List. Due to a combination of habitat loss, pollution, and invasive species, the wild population of axolotls is declining. The surviving population is very small, with less than 1000 axolotls remaining in the wild.

What You Can Do to Help Axolotls

You can help the axolotl by preventing waste from making its way into water sources and raising awareness about axolotls.

Axolotl Range

Axolotl Resources

About the Author

P.A. Smith is a middle school Language Arts teacher. He is also a contributing editor of My House Rabbit.

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Axolotl Facts for Kids | Axolotls Information | Animal Fact Guide

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Did you know the axolotl is a kind of amphibian that does not metamorphose naturally? They have the ability to regrow missing body parts.

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Mexican axolotl (pronounced ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl) salamanders are amphibians that spend their whole lives underwater. They exist in the wild in only one place-the lake complex of Xochimilco (pronounced SO-chee-MILL-koh), a network of artificial channels, small lakes, and temporary wetlands that help supply water to nearby Mexico City's 18 million residents.

Axolotls have long fascinated scientists for their ability to regenerate lost body parts and for their rare trait of neoteny, which means they retain larval features throughout life. Rather than undergoing typical metamorphosis, axolotls keep their youthful appearance, including their tadpolelike dorsal fin and feathery external gills that fan out from the head. As they age, axolotls simply get bigger and bigger, like amphibious Peter Pans.

In rare cases, axolotls have matured past the larval stage and emerged onto land as adult salamanders. Neoteny doesn't affect the axolotl's ability to breed. Females mate with males and lay eggs underwater.

As Mexico City has grown, the lake complex has shrunk and parts have become contaminated, distressing the axolotl population. The introduction of large numbers of carp and tilapia fish, which compete with axolotls for food and also eat axolotl eggs, has further lowered their population. A 2009 survey suggests there are fewer than 1,200 axolotls in the Xochimilco Lake complex.

Axolotls feast on a menu of mollusks, worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, and some fish.

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Mexican axolotl (pronounced ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl) salamanders are amphibians that spend their whole lives underwater. They exist in the wild in only one place-the lake complex of Xochimilco (pronounced SO-chee-MILL-koh), a network of artificial channels, small lakes, and temporary wetlands that help supply water to nearby Mexico City's 18 million residents.

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Behold the Unicorn of the Sea, the Narwhal

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The narwhal is as strange as it is fascinating. With their long tusk that sticks out from the front of their head they roam the Arctic waters in search of food

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Long, white tusks break the surface of the icy Arctic water. It's not a waterlogged herd of unicorns-it's a pod of narwhals! This species of whale is best known for its tusk-a long, spiraled tooth that usually only the males develop. (Females occasionally do.)

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Narwhal Facts

Main Characteristics

The narwhal is a small whale known for its long tusk.

Origin and Evolution

Is The Narwhal Some Kind of Unicorn?

In former times, the tusk of the narwhal was seen as the only evidence for the existence of unicorns. The tusk was highly sought after and so valuable that it was worth its weight in gold.

The narwhal's tusk is actually a spiral-shaped canine tooth protruding from the upper jaw directly through the upper lip. It can be up to 9.8 feet (3 meters) long and weigh up to 22 lb (10 kg). The narwhal has two of those teeth, but the one on the right often withers away and falls out.

Where Does the Name Narwhal Come From?

Norwegian "Nar" means "corpse". With increasing age, more and more white spots (age marks) appear on the skin of the narwhal - until it resembles a corpse.

Behavior

What Do Narwhals Eat?

The narwhal hoovers up 99-176 lb (45-80 kg) of fish, prawns and jellyfish every day. When hunting its prey, it dives up to 1,640 feet (500 meters) deep and utters click noises to locate its food.

Does the Narwhal Use its Tusk to Skewer Fish?

Of course one might think the narwhal could use its tooth just like a skewer. But this is not the case. The narwhal sucks its prey into its mouth and swallows it whole.

Anatomy and Appearance

What Do Narwhals Use Their Tusks For?

Scientists would like to know this, too. In the past people thought that the narwhal used it to catch its prey or to knock holes into the pack ice. But his tooth could break off and this would be tragic as it does not grow again and the narwhal could catch serious infections and die. Of course this would be rather undesirable for the narwhal.

According to the latest research, the tooth contains about 10 million nerve ends. They possibly enable the narwhal to measure the temperature and pressure of the water, the salinity and the number of prey fish.

Habitat

Narwhals Prefer Cold Water

During the winter, many animals wander south in order to evade the icy temperatures. Yet, narwhals prefer cold climates and move towards the pack ice during the summer. They use holes in the pack ice to breathe air.

Animals in the Same Biome:

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The narwhal is a small whale known for its long tusk. In former times, the tusk of the narwhal was seen as the only evidence for the existence of unicorns. The tusk was highly sought after and so valuable that it was worth its weight in gold.

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1. Narwhals are often called the "Unicorns of the Sea" because of their tusk, which is actually a long tooth.

2. Most male narwhals have a tusk, while only some females have one. Some narwhals even have two tusks! Their tusks have over 10 million nerves in them and can be up to 9 feet long.

3. The narwhal's scientific name Monodon monoceras means "one tooth, one horn." Males have been seen crossing tusks and it is assumed that they are fighting for females or trying to impress them.

4. The narwhals' tusks can be used for hunting. They use their tusks to slap and stun fish before eating them. Check out video footage of narwhals hunting with their tusks

5. Narwhals live in pods of 10-100 individuals in the Arctic, but have been seen in pods up to 1000.

6. Narwhals mainly hang out at the surface, but can dive down to 5,000 feet deep (1,524 m)

7. Narwhals feed on fish, shrimp and squid. They are suction feeders that swallow their food whole.

8. Predators include killer whales, polar bears, walruses and native Inuit hunters.

9. Narwhals can grow up to 17 feet long (5.2m) and weigh 4,200 pounds (1,905 kg).

10. Defenders.org says, "Narwhals might be more sensitive to impacts of climate change than the polar bear." Threats to Narwhals include oil and gas development of the Arctic, climate change, and shipping vessels that cause collisions and noise pollution.

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1. Narwhals are often called the "Unicorns of the Sea" because of their tusk, which is actually a long tooth.[...]

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