![]() Axolotl metamorphosis license#This is a part of the Wikipedia article used under the Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0 Unported License (CC-BY-SA). Axolotls were also sold as food in Mexican markets and were a staple in the Aztec diet. Axolotls are used extensively in scientific research due to their ability to regenerate limbs, gills and parts of their eyes and brains. They are listed as critically endangered in the wild, with a decreasing population of around 50 to 1000 adult individuals, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources and as an endangered species by the IUCN's CITES treaty. Neither should they be confused with mudpuppies, fully aquatic salamanders from a different family that are not closely related to the axolotl but bear a superficial resemblance.Īs of 2020, wild axolotls were near extinction due to urbanization in Mexico City and consequent water pollution, as well as the introduction of invasive species such as tilapia and perch. Instead of taking to the land, adults remain aquatic and gilled.Īxolotls should not be confused with the larval stage of closely related tiger salamander species, which are widespread in much of North America and occasionally become paedomorphic. Axolotls are unusual among amphibians in that they reach adulthood without undergoing metamorphosis. These include increased muscle tone in limbs, the absorption of gills and fins into the body, the development of eyelids, and a reduction in the skin's permeability to water, allowing the axolotl to stay more easily hydrated when on land. It is important to note that most axolotls are unable to metamorphose without the administration of hormones, and this should not be attempted by the casual hobbyist. ![]() Most often, this is due to a genetic quirk or a scientific experiment. ![]() The species was originally found in several lakes, such as Lake Xochimilco underlying Mexico City. An axolotl undergoing metamorphosis experiences a number of physiological changes that help them adapt to life on land. Axolotls generally do not metamorphose naturally, but occasionally one will break the rules. The axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, is a paedomorphic salamander related to the tiger salamander. ![]()
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