The Mexican axolotl is an extraordinary amphibian with very unique characteristics. In 2018, the Senate of the Republic declared February 1st as National Mexican Axolotl Day, honoring this highly symbolic animal in Mexican culture.
It's an amazing animal , remarkable for its anatomy and way of life. It has existed in our ecosystem for over 1.000 years and originated in the lakes of the Valley of Mexico. It faces several challenges, as it is threatened with extinction due to habitat destruction and pollution. In our present day, you'll surely understand the appeal of its appearance, given that it's the inspiration for the beloved Pokémon, a Japanese anime. It also has a fascinating history and legend that we'll explore in detail.
The amazing features of Axolotl
It has a compound name derived from Atl, meaning water, and Xólotl, meaning monster. Its meaning is "aquatic monster." This creature possesses remarkable regenerative abilities, a fact that has astounded scientists . Even ancient civilizations were fascinated by its appearance, a fact they associated with the god Xólotl, the twin brother of Quetzalcóatl.
These small animals are aquatic amphibians known as Ambystoma mexicanum and possess a remarkable regenerative ability. They can repair their spinal cord, eyes, heart, brain, and amputated limbs, including bones, muscles, and nerves. Another astonishing characteristic is their capacity to receive transplants of parts from other organisms.
It is admired by scientists because it is a neotenic species. This means it retains its youthful appearance and development; it does not age. Even in its larval stage, it reaches sexual maturity without undergoing metamorphosis.
Their bodies are remarkable and admirable, containing 32 million base pairs of DNA— an astonishing amount, as it is 10 times larger than that of humans. They have a high resistance to cancer and rarely develop tumors.
Another extraordinary characteristic is that it can change sex through metamorphosis ; it all depends on its social relationships, the type of water, and its diet.
Numerous laboratories are monitoring its evolution. They meticulously analyze studies of its anatomy, genetics, cell biology, and other aspects. It is extraordinary to learn about its development, especially the development of its limbs.
What is your physiognomy like?
It is a small amphibian, generally measuring 15 cm in length, though some can reach up to 30 cm. It resembles a large tadpole, with thin legs and toes without claws, a tail, small eyes, and smooth skin. It also has three pairs of gills at the base of its head.
It has a light color with dark spots . But in captivity, it changes color, taking on shades of gray, brown, pink, orange, or green. Some have an albino appearance when their parents are related. The average lifespan is 20 years.
It is a natural predator and part of an important food chain, so it is crucial to monitor its evolution, as it is endangered. It feeds on worms, slugs, earthworms, insects, small crustaceans, and frogs.
History and Legend of the Axolotl
This large amphibian has always been linked to Mexican culture, especially to Mexica (Aztec) mythology. It is associated with various cultures due to its remarkable abilities and the myths that connect it to the creation of life and transformation.
There are several versions and legends about this endearing animal, reflecting the rich cultural diversity of Mexico . The most well-known is the legend of Xolotl's escape. It is related to the legend of the Fifth Sun, the era in which we currently live. This is one of five eras, the first of which were destroyed by natural phenomena.
In this fifth era, it was important to sacrifice the gods so that the stars and humanity could be born. However, Xolotl, the god who represented the hidden and dark, feared death and resisted being sacrificed.
He had the ability to transform into different animals, plants, and creatures , first taking the form of a turkey, then an agave plant, a Xoloitzcuintle dog, a gopher snake, and finally an axolotl, this large aquatic animal. All his escape attempts failed, and he was eventually found and sacrificed when he threw himself into the lakes of Tenochtitlán. However, there are two versions of his story.
In one version of the story, he was forced to sacrifice himself, but in others, Ehécatl punished him by transforming him into an axolotl forever. Because of his cowardice and remorse, Xólotl chose to remain in the water, ashamed of his actions. During his life as an amphibian, he was captured as a delicacy for Aztec princes, but his image has been immortalized as an animal of great symbolism and transformative power.
The axolotl is in danger of extinction
This species lives in the lake and canals of Xochimilco, in Mexico City. They live in shallow waters, camouflaged under dense vegetation. It is a popular destination and has become increasingly polluted over the years; their habitat has even been repopulated with predators and other fish, which has increased predation on the axolotls.
It is more commonly found in captivity than in the wild. In recent years, efforts have been made to increase its population, as it is an animal with very special characteristics. It is critically endangered, as its habitat has been altered by multiple factors. Its habitat is heavily trafficked due to household sewage, litter, the introduction of new fish species, predators such as tilapia and carp, and the massive population of water hyacinth, which has become a pest.
As we have already mentioned, the axolotl is beneficial to the biosphere, as it regulates the food chain by consuming species that are essential to the ecosystem. Its extinction is at an alarming level, since in 1998, 6.000 individuals were found per square kilometer . This figure plummeted to just 36 axolotls in 2014, compared to the previous 6.000. The World Economic Forum has already published a report highlighting the risks to its survival, ranking it as the fourth most endangered species globally.
