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Black axolotlBlack is the most common color for axolotls in the wild, but is not commonly favored by pet owners. | Three white axolotlsAxolotls are social animals and do well in groups. | Baby axolotlWhen axolotls are very young, they are translucent and are just starting to grow legs and feathery gills. |
Black axolotl
Black is the most common color for axolotls in the wild, but is not commonly favored by pet owners.
Three white axolotls
Axolotls are social animals and do well in groups.
Baby axolotl
When axolotls are very young, they are translucent and are just starting to grow legs and feathery gills.
Description
-Classified as amphibian, mole salamander
-Usually 150 to 450 mm long
-Has tail, four legs, feathery external gills
-Wild/natural coloring is black and brown
-Can be albino, white, golden, or tan in captivity
-Translucent when very young
(EDGE of Existence, Alderton, Axolotl.org(AXO))
-Usually 150 to 450 mm long
-Has tail, four legs, feathery external gills
-Wild/natural coloring is black and brown
-Can be albino, white, golden, or tan in captivity
-Translucent when very young
(EDGE of Existence, Alderton, Axolotl.org(AXO))
Food
-As a baby, eats algae and aquatic plants
-As an adult, eats worms, aquatic insects, and invertebrates
-Predators are birds, humans, large fish
(EDGE, Aquatic Community (AC), IUCN, Greenard)
-As an adult, eats worms, aquatic insects, and invertebrates
-Predators are birds, humans, large fish
(EDGE, Aquatic Community (AC), IUCN, Greenard)
Habitat
-Lives in what is left of Lake Xochimilco, Mexico
-Mainly lives in captivity
-Often kept as pets or for scientific research
-Water temperatures of 20°
(EDGE, Edmonds, AXO)
-Mainly lives in captivity
-Often kept as pets or for scientific research
-Water temperatures of 20°
(EDGE, Edmonds, AXO)
Adaptations/neoteny
-Wild coloring (black/brown) camouflages with lake bottom
-Can regenerate almost any body part
-Axolotls are neotenous, which means that they do not metamorphose. They keep the tail and feathery gills suited for aquatic life, yet still reach sexual maturity.
(Multiple Organisms, Scientific American, AXO)
-Can regenerate almost any body part
-Axolotls are neotenous, which means that they do not metamorphose. They keep the tail and feathery gills suited for aquatic life, yet still reach sexual maturity.
(Multiple Organisms, Scientific American, AXO)
