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The Axolotl: An Endangered Species With Special Abilities

A deep look into the life of this aquatic amphibian and the race to save it from extinction.

Sara Mandujano Velazquez
Wildbies Magazine
6 min readMar 31, 2020

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The Axolotl (Ambystoma Mexicanum) is a small creature of no more than 30cm of length, yet it has historically attracted much attention from renowned individuals including Alexander von Humboldt, Diego Rivera, and Julio Cortázar. Despite its minute size, this creature is named after a god, and with good reason because, according to Nature Magazine, it displays a genome ten times more complex than that of a human.

The Axolotl in History

Axolotl means “water monster” and derives from the Nahuatl Xólotl, the name of the Aztec and Toltec deity of duality, death and resurrection, twin brother of Quetzalcoatl. In Aztec mythology, the Axolotl is said to be Xólotl’s third transformation as he seeks to escape from his twin brother Quetzalcoatl, and was thus revered.

Since ancient times the Axolotl’s regeneration capabilities were noticed, which lead this creature to become a coveted delicacy, prepared in the form of tamales, or used to prepare remedies for different ailments. Unfortunately, it is a tradition that continues, further enhancing the perilous situation of this creature.

Upon the arrival of Europeans in the Americas, Alexander von Humboldt was the first to notice the particularities of this creature and secured two specimens, which he took with him for further study, studies that continue to be carried out today.

Characteristics of the Axolotl

The Axolotl is classed among the salamanders within the amphibian class, however, it is the only species where full neoteny and regeneration is observed, features that have made it a celebrity within the scientific community.

Neoteny refers to the retention of juvenile features in the adult form, in the case of the Axolotl referring to the retention of its larval features such as a fin and gills, despite developing legs and lungs. The Axolotl reaches its mature age at 12 to 18 months of age and can live up to fifteen years, retaining its larval features throughout.

When we talk about regeneration, today the Axolotl is an important point of reference, for it is the only vertebrate known to be able to regenerate complete extremities numerous times. Not only this, but it has also been known to regenerate key organs such as the heart, the brain, and even the spinal cord without leaving as much as a scar for evidence.

In terms of appearance, the Axolotl has also been well-received due to its seemingly perpetual smile, unblinking eyes and six protruding gills resembling a headdress. The unblinking eyes were the feature that once captured the imagination and interest of famous Argentinean writer, Julio Cortázar, leading him to write a short story where he ponders this matter in length, ultimately realizing that these creatures have no eyelids and are therefore unable to blink.

The Axolotl as a Critically Endangered Species

Unfortunately, this lovely creature can no longer rest peacefully in the depths of the lakes where it once reigned. Today, this creature has seen a severe decline in its numbers and is now classed as a Critically Endangered Species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

The biggest threat to the Axolotl is the pollution and draining of its natural habitat. This creature is endemic to the lakes of the Valley of Mexico, however of these only Xochimilco remains to this day, clear evidence of how its natural habitat has slowly disappeared. In addition to this, Mexico City’s water demand and waste have to lead to an important reduction and pollution of Xochimilco Lake itself.

Another threat to the Axolotl is that, where this creature once reigned as the top predator of the lakes, the Tilapia fish were introduced to Xochimilco in the eighties, taking the place as a top predator and praying on the Axolotl.

Finally, as with many endangered species, an important threat to the Axolotl is its illegal trade. Despite being classed as a threatened species and thus have special protection under the Mexican law, many people continue to trade this creature as a “rare” species and continue to find buyers, particularly as the popularity of this animal grows across the world. Moreover, traditions are hard to die, including the ancestral custom of consuming the Axolotl as a delicacy in the form of tamales or soup among other preparations, a tradition that now adds to the numerous threats to the survival of this species.

Helping the Axolotl

Fortunately, among the Axolotl’s wonderful qualities is the ease of reproduction, evidenced by the 400 eggs that the female Axolotl lays. However, it is important to bear in mind that the specimens reproduced under lab conditions are more vulnerable than those that reproduce in the wild. In addition, many have pointed out that reproducing the Axolotl is not enough if it can’t be introduced into its natural habitat once again.

As a response to this creature’s dire situation, several programs have been put in place, including the Ecological Plan of Rescue of Xochimilco initiated in 1989 by CONABIO, the Mexican Commission for biodiversity. There exist numerous projects like this, most found in Xochimilco for obvious reasons, but there are some in other areas of Mexico City as well, such as the Axolotl nursery in Tezozómoc Park where the general public is welcome to see the nearly 300 specimens that are kept there.

Complementing the efforts done by the government, there also exist civil organizations working towards the conservation of the Axolotl, among which Umbral Axiochatl stands out for its exceptional efforts. One of the main projects of Umbral Axiochatl is to bring the Axolotl back to its habitat by creating areas within the channels of Xochimilco which are free of prey were the Axolotl can be reintroduced for their natural reproduction.

As can be seen, this little amphibian has much to offer and has done so during hundreds of years, however, it is now time to prioritize its conservation so that it can continue to share its many secrets with us in the years to come.

References

Wildbies Magazine is the official blog of Wildbies — a brand of collectible toys made of recycled plastic. Follow our Facebook @Wildbies to stay up to date with our latest news, stories, and promotions! Thank you for following our blog and remember to stay wild.
Animals
Mexico
Conservation
Nature
Wildlife

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Sara Mandujano Velazquez
Wildbies Magazine

Written by Sara Mandujano Velazquez

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