The Smiling Salamander
The smiling salamander, Axolotl! What is axolotl? The axolotl is a neotenic salamander. Although it is also known as Mexican walking fish, it is not a fish, it is an amphibian. The species was originally found in the complex of Lake Xochimilco, near Mexico City. It is famous for its limb regeneration ability. Axolotl belongs to Animalia kingdom, Chordata phylum, Amphibia class, Urodela order, Ambystomatidae family, and Ambystoma genus. Its binomial name is Ambystoma mexicanum . Axolotl is also a member of Ambystoma tigrinum or tiger salamander. Unlike the other amphibians, Axolotl doesn’t reach its adulthood through metamorphosis. This condition is called neoteny. Instead of developing lungs and taking to the land, adults remain aquatic and gilled. Axolotl has external respirator which is three pairs of gill at the back of its head on both sides. The gills look like horns. Its height is 20-30 cm with 60-110 g weight. Female axolotl has a bigger body and a small r