File #027 //
Axolotl
(Ambystoma Mexicanum)
Core Data
Designation: Mole Salamander
Habitat: Native to the Mexican Central Valley in Mexico.
Diet: Using suction to eat, its diet consists of insects, worms, mollusks, crustaceans, small fish, and even tadpoles.
Size: Ranges in length from 15 to 45cm (6 to 18in).
Lifecycle: Lives around 5 to 6 years but can live 10 to 15, even 20 years in captivity depending on the circumstances.
Specialized Functions
Axolotl are known for their amazing regenerative abilities. Rather than scarring they are capable of tissue regeneration, restoring limbs, its tail, and even vital organs like its eyes, heart, and parts of its brain! Sometimes an Axolotl might regenerate its limbs and grow a new one resulting in extra limbs! Its ability declines a bit with age.
While Axolotl are known for their iconic pink appearance, they are actually much darker in the wild. Its pink color is actually a genetic mutation! The reason why you see so many pink ones is due to selective breeding.
An Axolotl stays in its "tadpole" form all its life, living underwater and never going through metamorphosis like other amphibians. However, if they experience certain stresses they can go through metamorphosis and turn into their salamander form. This usually shortens their lifespan, however, if it goes through metamorphosis on its own, which is an extremely rare occurrence, this doesn't affect its lifespan.