Axolotl
Axolotl
Axolotl (pronounced: /ˈæksəlɒtəl/), also known as the Mexican walking fish, is a neotenic salamander related to the Tiger Salamander.
Etymology
The term "Axolotl" comes from the Nahuatl language, specifically from two words: "atl" meaning water, and "xolotl" meaning monster. Thus, the term can be translated as "water monster".
Description
Axolotls are known for their ability to regenerate limbs, spinal cord, heart, and other organs. They are typically found in the remnants of Xochimilco, a system of lakes and canals near Mexico City. Axolotls have a wide head, lidless eyes, and a lateral line system similar to that of fish. They also have four limbs with digits.
Life Cycle
Unlike many other salamanders, axolotls reach adulthood without undergoing metamorphosis. Instead of developing lungs and taking to land, the adults remain aquatic and gilled.
Conservation Status
The axolotl is currently listed as critically endangered in the wild, with a decreasing population due to habitat loss and pollution.
Related Terms
- Neoteny: The retention, by adults in a species, of traits previously seen only in juveniles.
- Metamorphosis: A biological process by which an animal physically develops after birth or hatching.
- Regeneration (biology): The process of renewal, restoration, and growth that makes cells, organisms, and ecosystems resilient to natural fluctuations or events that cause disturbance or damage.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Axolotl
- Wikipedia's article - Axolotl
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