Ambystomatidae
caudata
Amphibia
15 to 20 days of incubation.
Hundreds
About 20 years old.
This curious tailed amphibian does not undergo complete metamorphosis, and unlike salamanders and other metamorphosing amphibians, it does not shed its skin. In some species, adults can reach sexual maturity with larval characteristics, such as retaining gills and remaining in their aquatic form.
Although it has lungs, it does not use them and breathes throughout its life through gills, visible on the sides of its head.
The destruction and degradation of their habitats, poaching, and the introduction of invasive species such as tilapia and carp have created a serious conservation challenge for this critically endangered species. Paradoxically, they could become invasive, as some people are releasing them into rivers, threatening biodiversity.
The axolotl is capable of regenerating many parts of its body after amputation. In the laboratory, it has even been shown to regenerate internal organs.
The axolotl has great importance in current Mexican culture, inspiring works of literature, art, and music.
The Aztecs believed that the axolotl was a manifestation of the god Xolotl himself, associated with death and transformation.
