Axolotl become big, but stay a tadpole their whole life! The axolotl becomes big in a unique way. But, they are living in a danger zone, and they are near extinction. It's so sad!
Total length: 10-23cm
(Source: Doubutsu Sekai-isan* Red Data Animals Kodansha) (*World Animal Heritage)
They live only in and around the Xochimilco Lake in Mexico.
They eat small fish, bugs, and earthworms too.
Axolotl become adults but still look like children. Sometimes they change into adults. Then, they can live on the land.
Even if they become big they are still a kid? What does this mean?
Everyone knows that tadpoles become frogs. Normally when amphibians become adults they change, and are able to live on the land. Axolotl are also amphibians. But most of the time, even when they become big their bodies don't change much, and they still live in the water. They are strange creatures that can stay tadpoles forever!
Humans made their habitat dirty, and now they're in big trouble!
The lake where axolotl live has become very dirty. A lot of sewage and dirty water from nearby towns are being dumped into the lake. Also, they are near extinction because they are caught for food and eaten by fish that people put in the lake. Now wild Axolotl are protected, and it is forbidden to catch them. Sometimes they are sold as pets, but those are types to be made pets.
If you click the words above, you can see other animals related to this one.