What’s an axolotl? Native to Mexico, axolotls are a kind of salamander. With their adorable smiles, feathery gills, and unique appearance, axolotls are becoming popular pets. You might be wondering, “What makes axolotls unique?”
Here are 30 fascinating facts to blow your mind.
- Axolotls have the nickname “walking fish”
- Wild axolotls are critically endangered
- The axolotl was once a god
- Axolotls guided the ancient Aztecs to the land of the dead
- The Aztecs used to eat axolotls
- They look like they’re wearing feathers
- Axolotls come in lots of colors
- You can’t take them out of water
- Axolotls can still use their lungs to breathe air
- They can live a long time
- Axolotls look like they’re always shyly smiling
- Axolotls will “beg” for food when they see you
- Axolotl genomes are ten times larger than ours
- Axolotls make great pets
- Axolotls can squeak
- Axolotls may eat their aquarium buddies
- Axolotls are like little kids: They put everything in their mouth
- Your axolotl might wonder how you taste
- Axolotls can eat with no teeth
- Beginning axolotl setups aren’t too expensive
- Axolotls can’t blink
- Axolotls have many eye colors
- Axolotls have an amazing ability to regenerate their body parts
- Axolotls can change their regular cells into stem cells
- Scientists are trying to unlock the secrets of axolotl regeneration
- They are resistant to cancer
- Axolotls can regrow parts of their brain
- Axolotls have almost no bones
- Axolotls inspired a major work of science fiction
- Axolotls pee through their gills
- Even though they’re larval, axolotls can still reproduce
1. Axolotls have the nickname “walking fish”
Is an axolotl an amphibian or a reptile? Axolotls are amphibians, meaning that they begin their lives in water. As adults, most amphibians grow legs and leave the water, but axolotls are different. An axolotl’s larval stage lasts its entire life. Even though they grow four legs, they don’t leave the water even as adults. That’s why they’re humorously called “walking fish.”
2. Wild axolotls are critically endangered
Originally discovered in Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City, the wild axolotl population has dropped dramatically. This drop is due primarily to water pollution and invasive species like tilapia. What would happen if Axolotls went extinct? It would be the loss of a fascinating and unique species. In recent years, Mexico City has worked to conserve its wild axolotl population. Reducing pollution and building “axolotl shelters” out of rocks and plants to filter the water have helped.
How many Axolotls are left in the world?
There are about 700 and 1,200 axolotls left in the world. Most of them are domestic and while they are some still left in the wild.
3. The axolotl was once a god
In Aztec mythology, the wind god Ehecatl was sacrificing all the other gods to make the sun move. However, the god Xolotl did not want to sacrifice himself for this project. To escape, Xolotl transformed himself into a salamander and swam away. In some versions of the legend, he stayed in Lake Xochimilco so long he lost the ability to walk on land and became the axolotl.
4. Axolotls guided the ancient Aztecs to the land of the dead
In the mythology of the Aztecs, the god Xolotl was responsible for taking your dead spirit to Mictlan, the land of the afterlife. To make sure you arrived there safely, Xolotl would help guide you there in one of his two favorite forms. One was the hairless “xolo,” the xoloitzcuintli dog. The other was the axolotl.
5. The Aztecs used to eat axolotls
The mighty Aztec Empire had a wide and interesting variety of foods. Axolotls were definitely on the menu — think “axolotl tamales.” Because they’re now endangered, wild axolotl are no longer fished. However, restaurants in Japan do serve captive-raised ones. Apparently, they taste like eel.
6. They look like they’re wearing feathers
You’ll notice that on either side of an axolotl’s head are feathery-looking projections that wave in the water. Those “feathers” are actually their gills. The feathers increase the surface area of the gills just like the loops of a terrycloth towel. The greater surface area allows the gills to trap more oxygen for the axolotl.
7. Axolotls come in lots of colors
For wild axolotls, think “basic army camo.” Brownish-green and black with little speckles of gold, wild axolotls actually get darker over time. In fact, they can turn almost black as they age. Some captive axolotls are white or albino or even a gold color the color of popcorn butter. Rarely, axolotls can sometimes be piebald or half-black, half-white.
8. You can’t take them out of water
You might be wondering, “Can you take an axolotl out of water?” The answer is a definite “no.” Even though they have lungs, gills, and teeny legs, axolotls cannot walk on land. Like fish, they should not be out of water for very long. They are amphibians, but they’re more like tadpoles than like frogs.
9. Axolotls can still use their lungs to breathe air
Do axolotls need air? Sure, but like fish, axolotls prefer to take in their oxygen from their water. Axolotls will use their lungs only if the water quality is poor. If you have an axolotl in a fish tank, you don’t want them to swim up a long way for their air. You’re better off with a long tank than with a deep one.
10. They live a long time
Are axolotls immortal? No, but they do live a long time, as much as 15 to 20 years, although 10 years is a more typical lifespan. They have an amazing power to regenerate lost limbs, a factor which definitely helps with their survival.
11. Axolotls look like they’re always shyly smiling
One appealing quality of axolotls as a pet is that many of them look like they’re sporting an adorable shy smile. Most axolotls have that charming smile, although some look more friendly than others. It may not look as if they have teeth, but they do. As carnivores, they do eat meat such as worms or small fish, but their teeth are designed to grip rather than bite or tear.
12. Axolotls will “beg” for food when they see you
Axolotls will sometimes respond to their owners by coming up to the glass of their aquarium, paddling on the glass, and appearing to beg for food pretty much like a dog does. Some axolotls will beg for food more than others.
13. Axolotl genomes are ten times larger than ours
The human genome — the complete recipe to make a unique person — is made of up about 3 billion pairs of genes. Every trait we possess, from having five fingers to seeing the color red, is determined by those 3 billion pairs.
However, the axolotl’s mighty genome puts ours to shame. At 32 billion base pairs, the axolotl’s long genome is the largest ever sequenced by genetic researchers. This long genome is probably related to the axolotl’s amazing ability to regenerate parts of itself that have sustained damage.
14. Axolotls make great pets
If you’re wondering, “Are axolotls hard to take care of?” the answer is “No, not really!” Tame and easygoing, axolotls are about as difficult to take care of as a basic fish. Like fish, they don’t benefit from handling. Axolotls may not be super-social, but they are fascinating to watch and care for.
15. Axolotls can squeak
Do axolotls make noise? If you have close neighbors or roommates, this is a great question to ask if you’re thinking of getting a pet axolotl. The answer is no, they generally are very quiet. However, from time to time, axolotls may make an occasional squeak, usually as a warning that means, “Hey, cut that out!” if it’s grabbed or bitten by another aquarium dweller. It may squeak or yip when it comes up for air.
16. Axolotls may eat their aquarium buddies
If they’re left alone, axolotls are generally very mellow. Can you put an axolotl with fish? No, it’s not a great idea. When an axolotl sees another critter in the aquarium, their first thought is, “Hey, a food source!” even if they’re looking at another axolotl. In defending themselves, fish can nip back at your axolotl and cause damage. Bottom line, it’s best to keep your axolotl as the sole aquarium inhabitant. A lone axolotl is a happy axolotl.
17. Axolotls are like little kids: They put everything in their mouth
Axolotls like putting things in their mouth. After all, it could be food. This means that if you’re feeding your axolotl by hand, you might get nipped. Do axolotl bites hurt? No, not really. Their teeth are rubbery and made for gripping, so they feel like velcro or sandpaper and don’t really hurt.
18. Your axolotl might wonder how you taste
Are axolotls dangerous? No, they’re just curious. Axolotls will try to nibble everything, including your fingers. If you’re bitten by your axolotl, you might understandably be startled. If it happens, don’t jerk your hand out of the aquarium because you could hurt them. Just patiently wait for your axolotl to figure out you’re too big to make a good snack, and don’t take it personally.
19. Axolotls can eat with no teeth
Axolotls like to eat pretty much anything meat-like, including worms, insect larvae, other axolotls, small fish, molluscs, or crustaceans. Instead of chewing their food, they suck food into their mouth and swallow it whole without chewing.
20. Beginning axolotl setups aren’t too expensive
If you’re asking yourself, “How much does it cost to buy an axolotl?” the good news is that axolotl ownership is not very expensive. An axolotl will generally run between $25-35. Since they grow to an average of 9-10 inches, they’ll need a tank that’s at least 20 gallons. Tanks of that size usually cost between $65-75.
For new axolotl owners, some pet stores have a “starter kit” including filter pump, substrate, and tank pH test kit. These starter kits generally run between $80-90, and extra decorations like plants and hidey-holes will cost a bit more. A tank lid is also a good idea, as some axolotls have jumped out of their enclosures.
21. Axolotls can’t blink
If you’ve ever wondered why your axolotls always seem like they’re awake, it’s because they can’t shut their eyes. Axolotls have no eyelids, so even though they have a cute smile, they can’t wink at you. Having no eyelids is normal for them, though, so don’t worry.
22. Axolotls have many eye colors
Depending on their genetics, your axolotl may have eyes that are black, pink, yellow, or even black with a shiny gold rim. Are axolotls blind? Even though they have no eyelids, axolotl eyesight is adequate. They do see, but they prefer dim light or normal indoor lighting.
23. Axolotls have an amazing ability to regenerate their body parts
We’re familiar with the idea that certain reptiles and amphibians can regenerate their tails. However, axolotls take regeneration to a new level. Just like Deadpool or Wolverine in the movies, they can regrow crushed spinal cords or entire limbs — in fact, they are the only land animal that has this ability. They can regenerate their testes or a portion of their heart.
24. Axolotls can change their regular cells into stem cells
When we hurt ourselves, we scar. Our skin covers up the site of the wound, and it’s always visible. However, when an axolotl regrows a limb, it’s absolutely perfect. There’s no scar. In fact, a single axolotl can lose the same limb dozens of times. Axolotls have the ability to transform their body cells into stem cells and grow a new limb from scratch complete with skin, nerves, bone, muscle, and veins.
25. Scientists are trying to unlock the secrets of axolotl regeneration
What is the secret to axolotl regeneration? How are axolotls able to change regular cells into stem cells? Now that they have decoded the enormous axolotl genome, scientists are working to discover why axolotls regenerate limbs. Further study needs to take place, and for geneticists, this is an exciting field of research.
26. They are resistant to cancer
It is rare for Axolotls to get cancer. As they are able to regenerate their cells so quickly, it helps to slow down any cancer from even developing. This makes them resistant to cancer entirely hence are 1000 times more unlikely to develop cancer than humans.
27. Axolotls can regrow parts of their brain
Can an axolotl regrow their head? Given the axolotl’s amazing powers of regeneration, it’s not a bad question to ask. No, axolotls cannot regrow their entire heads. Impressively enough, though, they can regrow the telencephalon, the entire front portion of their brain. Greater knowledge of how brain regeneration works could have major effects for patients suffering from traumatic injuries.
28. Axolotls have almost no bones
Axolotls are soft and delicate creatures, which is why you shouldn’t handle them. Despite their amazing ability to regenerate themselves, they’re actually more delicate than fish. Unlike fish, axolotls have no major bones. Instead, their skeleton is composed of cartilage, and even their teeth are somewhat rubbery rather than bonelike.
29. Axolotls inspired a major work of science fiction
Axolotls inspired science fiction writer Frank Herbert when he was writing his famous Dune novels. In Herbert’s work, one of the most dangerous groups is the Bene Tleilax. The Bene Tleilax carefully guard a technology called “axolotl tanks.” There, they can replicate human beings from cadaver cells. They can also create assassins who have the ability to manipulate their faces and bodies to resemble any other human.
30. Axolotls pee through their gills
Do axolotls pee? Yes, but they pee out only about half of their metabolic waste as urine. Axolotls get rid of the rest of their pee through their gills.
31. Even though they’re larval, axolotls can still reproduce
They can lay up to 1,000 eggs!
Are axolotls asexual? No, despite the fact that they stay in their larval stage their whole lives, axolotls reproduce as a regular part of their life cycle. The male deposits a sack of male jelly and the female sits on it. Fertilization takes place inside the female axolotl’s body. Hours to days later, she lays 100-1000 eggs. Hatching occurs about 2-3 weeks later.
Final Thoughts
Axolotls are fascinating creatures to study and to care for. Unique and interesting, axolotls are easy to care for in almost any house or apartment. Their amazing biological abilities and mythological past makes them even more distinct. Besides, who doesn’t love that adorable smile?
