axolotls

Axolotls are Paedogenic
Axolotls live in lakes near Mexico City
Axolotls are critically endangered
Axolotls can regenerate limbs, gills, parts of eyes and brains
Leucistic - lacking pigment
Axolotls have three pairs of gill stalks
Metamorphosis is possible in lab conditions but doesn’t happen in the wild
They are not the only neotenic salamanders
The small native population leads to a loss of genetic diversity
Captive-bred Axolotls have moderate success at surviving when reintroduced to new bodies of water
Axolotls incorrectly seek out gastroliths
Named after Aztec god Xolotl
Means “Water Monster” in https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nahuatl language
They appear in the works of Mexican muralist Diego Rivera
They live for about 10-15 years
Axolotls can’t blink
How to gender an Axolotl
Likes still or slow moving water
Red gills most of the time because blood flow but not all the time
Fragile skin, do not handle. Their skin is covered in a protective slime coat
Carnivore
Around 20-25cm?
They just about have tiny little teeth that they barely use?
They use suction power to devour their prey?
Solitary animals?
- citation needed on those last 4