In ancient Aztec mythology, there’s a captivating story about the creation of our world, known as the legend of the Five Suns. The fifth sun marked the era when humans were created. However, this sun needed sacrifices to move across the sky. The gods were the first to be sacrificed, setting a tradition that the Aztecs followed. But one god, named Xolotl, didn’t want to be sacrificed. To hide, he transformed into different forms, including a water creature called the axolotl. When he was found, his brother spared him but banished him to live forever as an axolotl, a creature believed to still hold the spirit of a god.
Axolotls are a type of salamander found only in Lake Xochimilco, near Mexico City. Unlike other salamanders, axolotls live their entire lives in water and never fully grow up. They keep their youthful features, like feathery gills, and can regenerate almost any part of their body, including limbs and even parts of their brain. This incredible ability has made them a focus of scientific research for many years.
Axolotls have been crucial in helping scientists understand how organs develop and function. Researchers hope to learn the secrets of their regenerative powers to benefit humans. However, their natural habitat is shrinking, and axolotls are at risk of extinction in the wild.
Axolotls belong to the tiger salamander family and have evolved relatively recently. They grow to about 23 centimeters long and come in different colors. Unlike most salamanders, they are neotenic, meaning they keep their juvenile traits into adulthood, allowing them to stay aquatic.
When axolotls were first sent to a French zoologist named Auguste Dumeril in the 1860s, he thought they were larvae of an unknown salamander. But when they reproduced, he realized they were adults. This discovery highlighted their unique biology. Although axolotls usually don’t undergo metamorphosis, some can transform into land-dwelling adults. This transformation is linked to the thyroid gland, which plays a role in amphibian metamorphosis.
All living things can regenerate to some extent, but axolotls are exceptional. They can regenerate limbs, spinal cords, and even parts of their brain. This is because they can reprogram their cells to grow new tissues, a process that scientists are eager to understand.
Despite their amazing abilities, axolotls face extinction in the wild due to habitat loss, pollution, and invasive species. Their numbers have drastically declined, and they were predicted to go extinct in the wild by 2020. However, they narrowly avoided this fate.
Axolotls are now only found in Lake Xochimilco, which has been heavily polluted and invaded by non-native fish. While they thrive in labs, captive populations lack genetic diversity. Scientists are considering reintroducing them into their natural habitat, but the lake needs to be cleaned first. Meanwhile, researchers are exploring new habitats, like a freshwater lake near Mexico’s National Autonomous University, to establish a semi-wild population.
Mexico is home to many unique species, and the axolotl is one of its most remarkable. Protecting the axolotl is crucial for preserving biodiversity and maintaining the delicate balance of ecosystems. Their story reminds us of the importance of conserving our planet’s natural wonders.
Imagine you are an ancient Aztec storyteller. Write your own mythical story involving the axolotl, drawing inspiration from the legend of Xolotl. Share your story with the class and discuss how myths can influence our understanding of nature.
Build a diorama of Lake Xochimilco, the natural habitat of the axolotl. Include elements like water, plants, and other creatures that share the environment. Present your diorama to the class and explain the importance of each component in the ecosystem.
Conduct a simple experiment to understand regeneration. Use a plant like a potato or a carrot, cut it into pieces, and observe how it regenerates over time. Compare your findings with the axolotl’s regeneration abilities and discuss the potential scientific applications.
Design a campaign to raise awareness about the conservation challenges faced by axolotls. Create posters, social media posts, or a short video. Present your campaign to the class and discuss ways to help protect axolotls and their habitat.
Participate in a debate about the importance of biodiversity. Research the role of axolotls in their ecosystem and argue for their conservation. Discuss with your classmates the broader implications of biodiversity loss and how it affects our planet.
In Aztec mythology, the legend of the Five Suns is the creation myth of our world. The dawning of the fifth sun brought about the era in which humans were created and is the era in which we currently live. According to the myth, this sun was created by the gods but was unable to move across the sky without the nourishment of sacrifices. The gods themselves were the first to be sacrificed to the sun, setting the tradition of human sacrifice that the Aztecs would later follow.
The god Shalottal, however, did not want to be sacrificed. To evade detection, he transformed into various forms: first the maize plant, then the agave plant, and finally the water monster, the axolotl. When he was discovered, his brother Ketzel Koatl spared his life but banished him to live forever in darkness as an axolotl. Today, this water monster is believed to still hold the spirit of a god.
Axolotls are a type of salamander found only in the area of Lake Xochimilco, outside Mexico City, near the ancient capital of the Aztecs, Tenochtitlan. Beyond their spiritual ties, axolotls are unique among salamanders as they live permanently in water and retain their juvenile form throughout their lives, never maturing into their adult body. Remarkably, axolotls can regenerate almost any part of their body, including limbs, tails, organs, and even parts of their brain.
For hundreds of years, axolotls have been central to our understanding of organ development and function, holding answers to many pressing biological questions. Researchers hope to unlock the secrets of their regenerative abilities to potentially harness them for human benefit. However, with only a few hundred kilometers of waterways remaining of their natural habitat, axolotls are on the brink of extinction in the wild, and the time to study these mysteries is running out.
Axolotls are members of the tiger salamander species complex and evolved relatively recently compared to other salamander species in the region. They grow to about 23 centimeters long and come in various colors. Unlike almost all other salamanders, they are neotenic, meaning they retain juvenile characteristics into adulthood and never undergo metamorphosis. This allows them to remain aquatic, keeping their external feathery gills and tail fins.
When axolotls were first shipped from Mexico to prominent French zoologist Auguste Dumeril in the 1860s, he initially believed they were the larvae of an unknown type of salamander. However, six months later, his specimens unexpectedly reproduced, revealing that these reproducing axolotls were indeed adults. This discovery highlighted the axolotl’s unique biology.
While retaining juvenile traits may seem unusual, it is not entirely unique. Other salamanders in the region can also remain aquatic throughout their lives. Naturalists initially struggled to understand this phenomenon, but examining the habitats of these salamanders provided clues. The Mexican lakes where they are found share key characteristics: they are large, relatively permanent bodies of water, often surrounded by desert, and historically lacked large predatory fish.
For a time, it was believed that axolotls always failed to undergo metamorphosis, but this was not entirely true. Dumeril discovered that some individuals could transform into their adult land-living form. In the early 1900s, researchers focused on the thyroid gland as a mechanism for amphibian metamorphosis, and axolotls became a key model for studying this process.
All organisms possess some level of regenerative abilities, but in vertebrates like humans, regeneration is limited. Axolotls, however, retain their regenerative capabilities throughout their lives. The process of limb regeneration begins with the surviving cells of the limb. After a limb is lost, a blood clot forms, and a layer of cells covers the area of amputation. Underneath this layer, cells rapidly divide, forming a structure known as a blastema, which holds the key to regeneration.
Axolotls can regenerate not only limbs but also parts of their brain. In mammals, neurons typically only grow during the embryonic stage, and brain damage in adulthood usually cannot regenerate new neurons. However, axolotls can add new neurons throughout their lives by de-differentiating stem cells, allowing them to regenerate the spinal cord and parts of the brain after injury.
Despite their remarkable abilities, axolotls are facing extinction in the wild. Their population has dramatically declined due to habitat loss, pollution, and invasive species. In 1998, it was reported that around 6,000 individuals lived per square kilometer in their habitat, but by 2015, only 35 individuals were found per square kilometer. They were predicted to go extinct in the wild in 2020, but they narrowly escaped this fate.
The wild axolotl is now found only in Lake Xochimilco, which has been drastically altered by human activity. The lake is highly polluted and filled with invasive fish that outcompete and prey on axolotls. While axolotls thrive in laboratory settings, captive populations are becoming inbred, lacking the genetic diversity necessary for health.
To address this decline, scientists have proposed reintroducing captive axolotls into their natural habitat, but this is not feasible until the lake is cleaned up. Instead, researchers are exploring alternative habitats, such as a freshwater lake created from an abandoned quarry near Mexico’s National Autonomous University. Here, axolotls are being released and tracked, with hopes of establishing a new semi-wild population.
Mexico is one of the most biodiverse countries in the world, home to many unique species. The axolotl is just one of the notable native species, and its conservation is crucial. The story of the axolotl serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving biodiversity and the delicate balance of ecosystems.
Axolotl – A type of salamander native to Mexico, known for its ability to regenerate lost body parts and its aquatic lifestyle. – The axolotl is often studied in biology classes because of its unique regenerative abilities.
Biodiversity – The variety of different types of life found on Earth, including the different species, ecosystems, and genetic variations. – Protecting biodiversity is crucial for maintaining healthy ecosystems and the services they provide.
Conservation – The protection and preservation of natural resources and environments to prevent their depletion or destruction. – Conservation efforts are essential to protect endangered species and their habitats.
Habitat – The natural environment where a plant or animal lives and grows. – Deforestation is a major threat to the habitat of many wildlife species.
Regeneration – The process by which organisms replace or restore lost or damaged tissues, organs, or limbs. – Scientists are studying the regeneration capabilities of certain animals to understand how to apply these processes in medicine.
Pollution – The introduction of harmful substances or products into the environment, which can cause damage to ecosystems and living organisms. – Reducing pollution is critical to ensure clean air and water for future generations.
Species – A group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring, sharing common characteristics and genetic makeup. – The giant panda is a species that has been the focus of many conservation programs due to its declining population.
Salamander – An amphibian with a lizard-like appearance, known for its ability to regenerate lost limbs and its preference for moist environments. – Salamanders are often used in scientific studies to learn more about limb regeneration.
Ecosystem – A community of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment, functioning as a unit. – The rainforest is a complex ecosystem that supports a vast array of plant and animal life.
Research – The systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. – Research in environmental science helps us understand the impact of human activities on the planet.
