axolotl

Amphibian

Axolotls are special in several ways. For example, they reach sexual maturity without having undergone metamorphosis, so you could say that adults look like juveniles. An axolotl breathes with gills. However, should the watercourse they live in dry up, they also have lungs to breathe with. However, should this happen, they cannot go back to breathing with gills again. Another interesting feature of axolotls is that if they injure a bone, for example, they grow a new one. This is very energy-intensive and the bone is usually not as good as the original, but it is still a fantastic adaptation to maximise their chances of survival and reproduction. The axolotl is a small predator and hunts by sensing the electrical signals of its prey, in the same way that sharks hunt. A common misconception is that axolotls are lizards or fish. In fact, they are a type of amphibian and therefore an amphibian. Like other amphibians, they are very sensitive to foreign substances in nature as they absorb fluids through their skin. In many parts of the world, dead amphibians are seen as a warning bell that the water is unfit to drink.

Today, axolotls are found in very few places in the Mexico City canal system and the main threat is pollution. It is estimated that there are only a few hundred axolotls left in the wild. By using eco-labelled cleaning products and toiletries, you can help reduce the amount of chemicals entering the world's waters.

CITES B