by Alexa (age 9, @KNEstemGirls)
What do you know about the crazy creatures, the Mexican axolotls? Even as adults, these creatures keep their tadpole-like fin and external gills on top of their head, known as neoteny. Mexican axolotls can even regenerate lost body parts. Since they have this ability, axolotls are one of the most studied salamanders in the world.
You probably won’t see a wild axolotl because they only exist in the lake complex of Xochimilco (SO-chee-MILL-koh), part of Mexico City. They spend their lives underwater living 15 years on a diet of mollusks, worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, and some fish. Unfortunately, the population is decreasing from the introduction of large fish into their habitat.
If you see an axolotl it may look happy all the time. I know that I’m always happy when I see them!
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