Chapter 1: Global Distribution

Hi! My name is Lottie, and I'm an axolotl or -in other words- a Ambystoma mexicanum.

I am only found in Xochimilco in the Valley of Mexico. Sometimes, you can find me in canals and waterways of Mexico City too.

This is the place!

I like a habitat that reflects where I live! With that being said, my habitat is a high-altitude body of water. I can handle water with a pH in the 6.5 to 8.0 range, but, I prefer to swim in a pH level that is around 7.4 – 7.6.

Chapter 2: Key Facts

Phew! That was a lot! Although there is still a lot more information about me that I want to cover, so hang in there!

Classification: Amphibian

Class: Amphibia

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Order: Urodela

Genus: Ambystoma

Species: Salamander

Family: Ambystomatidae

I don't know half of those words...

Let's talk about axolotls in general. An axolotl can reach 18 inches in length, but nowadays grows to about 9 inches. I'm fine with being shorter; just don't call me short. And we can live 10-15 years. You might think that's short... 

no it's not.

DENIAL

Us axolotls have cylindrical bodies, short legs, a long tail and feathery external gills. We have four toes on the front feet, five toes on the back feet and moveable eyelids. Take me for example!

Our closest relative's are the tiger salamander Ambystoma tigrinum and the

spotted salamander Ambystoma maculatum.

Chapter 3: Lifestyle

We are carnivores and survive on a diet of worms, insects, crustaceans, mollusks and some small species of fish.

When we want to eat something, we open our mouth and suck in the water around us like a vacuum sucking in anything nearby. It sucks when we get gravel in our mouth though... (haha get it? Vacuum? Sucks? Okay, I'll stop).

Thankfully we have few predators in the wilderness, though we sometimes can be taken by storks, herons, and large fish (carp and tilapia).

We are important because we give scientists the information that they need for regeneration. Since we can regenerate our limbs, heart, lungs, brain, and internal organs!

..and I guess you could also say were important because we're cute and are in Minecraft, but that's a little degrading...

Chapter 4: Reproduction

In the year 2020 there were around 1,000 axolotls (or fewer theft in the wild. In 2021 to 2022 there are 700-1,200 left of us in the wild. I can't say if it's increasing or decreasing.

Well, this is going to be awkward.. lets talk about reproduction!

The male axolotl displays interest in the female axolotl by nudging her hindquarters with his nose. If she is receptive, the male axolotl will then attempt to court her by placing himself in front of her and then will start leading her, nose to tail, around the aquarium/lake.

The mating between axolotls happens at random. Axolotls have no conditions when mating with each other and don't do it often.

 Axolotls can reach sexual maturity anywhere between 5 months and several years, depending on frequency and quality of food, and the water temperature and conditions in which we are kept.