Axolotl - Encyclopedia of Life (2024)

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How many axolotls are left in 2024? ›

The species has only one natural habitat remaining, a series of canals in Mexico City, and only 50-1000 axolotls are estimated to be left living there.

In fact, the main thrust of Axolotl chronicles the narrator's growing empathy for the axolotls, which eventually enables one of these animals to victimize him by "stealing" his body, thus leaving his human consciousness trapped inside the axolotl body.

On the other hand, animals represent the instinctual and primitive. Therefore, the axolotl may represent the id, unconscious of the writer. Cortazar may have used the animal as a symbol to liberate repressed thoughts or feelings. The glass of the aquarium may be taken as a mirror, or a barrier.

Axolotls are Mexican Amphibians, falling under the salamander category, and they live in two lakes, including Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco in Mexico. The Axolotl is a species scientists are apprehensive about going extinct soon; they estimate that there are only about 50 to 1,000 left in the wild.

Conclusion. Mosaic and hypomelanistic axolotls are among the rarest and most sought-after morphs in the axolotl community. Their unique appearance and genetic traits make them highly desirable for enthusiasts and pet owners alike!

The leading causes of Axolotl decline are human development, waste water disposal, and loss of habitat due to droughts. Despite their prevalence in the aquarium trade, these species are critically endangered in the wild.

Sirens and Necturus are other neotenic salamanders, although unlike axolotls, they cannot be induced to metamorphose by an injection of iodine or thyroxine hormone.

As a hom*ozygous recessive, gene e in the Mexican axolotl prevents optic vesicles from forming, thus producing an eyeless animal. Previous experimental evidence has indicated that the gene acts by affecting the ability of anterior medullary plate ectoderm in the eye field to respond to inductive mesodermal signals.

The axolotl has few predators in the wild, though they may be taken by storks and herons, as well as large fish (carp and tilapia), on occasion. Their biggest threat is urbanization and pollution of the freshwater lakes and ponds they inhabit.

The plot of Cortázar's “Axolotl” isn't that difficult to understand: A man becomes so transfixed by axolotls in a museum aquarium that he becomes one is a fairly simple deduction. It's interpreting “Axolotl”that leads to uncertainty and confusion—what do the axolotls represent in the story?

What Aztec god was the axolotl named after? ›

Xolotl is the canine brother and twin of Quetzalcoatl, the pair being sons of the virgin Chimalma. He is the dark personification of Venus, the evening star, and was associated with heavenly fire. The axolotl is named after him.

They've skyrocketed in pop culture fame, in part thanks to the addition of axolotls to the video game Minecraft in 2021. These unusual salamanders are now found everywhere from Girl Scout patches to hot water bottles.

As with other amphibians, the axolotl has a three-chambered heart.

In the United States, axolotls are illegal to own in California, Maine, New Jersey, and D.C., while a permit is required in New Mexico and Hawaii. In Canada, it is illegal to own axolotls in New Brunswick, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, while a permit is required in Nova Scotia.

Axolotls are dark-colored with greenish mottling; some may have silvery highlights on the skin. It has a broad, flat body with a large head donning its signature feathery gills waving gently in the water. Its mouth is often bent into a slight grin or is otherwise expressive.

It's hard to know exactly how many axolotls are left in the wild there. Zambrano guesses that during his last survey, in 2014, there were fewer than 1,000 in total, and perhaps fewer than 500.

The Lure of Piebald and Chimera Axolotls

Piebald and chimera axolotls are among the rarest and most visually striking axolotl morphs. Piebald axolotls are characterized by their white albino bodies with contrasting dark patches, often on the face and along the dorsal ridge.

Sadly, most of them live in pet shops and home aquariums since these endearing amphibians – with the appearance of a perpetual smile – have become popular pets. In the wild, however, axolotl numbers are very low, which means the “Mexican walking fish” is classified as critically endangered.