Ubercool "Mexican walking fish" Nearing Extinction

by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada on 11. 5.08
Travel & Nature

Axolotl photo

Update: Pelicans Mysteriously Falling from Sky on West Coast

Most Adorable Endangered Creature Ever?
We're saddened to learn that the alien-looking Axolotl salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum), aka Mexican walking fish or Mexican water monster, is seriously threatened with extinction because of habitat destruction and water pollution.

One of the coolest things about Axolotl - apart from their appearance - is they ability to regenerate most body parts. Read on for more details and photos.

Axolotl mexican water monster photo

Non-Native Competition and Habitat Destruction
According to the Yahoo News/Associated Press:

The number of axolotls (pronounced ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl) in the wild is not known. But the population has dropped from roughly 1,500 per square mile in 1998 to a mere 25 per square mile this year, according to a survey by Zambrano's scientists using casting nets.

Axolotl mexican walking fish photo

Axolotl's Last Stand?
One problem is with non-native fish species like the Asian Carp and the African tilapia that eat young Axolotls. They haven't evolved in the same environment, so they don't have good defense mechanisms against them.

The other big issue is habitat destruction. Lakes have been drained, and wastewater from Mexico City pollute waterways. This will not be easy to fix, but something will have to be done because these species that are threatened are just the canary in the coal mine. Bigger problems are on the horizon.

Axolotl mexican water monster photo

How to Save the Axolotl?

So far, scientists disagree on how to save the creature. But a pilot sanctuary is expected to open in the next three to six months in the waters around Island of the Dolls, so-called because the owner hangs dolls he finds in the canals to ward off evil spirits.

Zambrano proposes up to 15 axolotl sanctuaries in Xochimilco's canals, where scientists would insert some kind of barrier and clear the area of nonnative species.

Via Discovery News, Yahoo News, Earth First

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Comments (93)

I WANT ONE!!

jump to top Anonymous says:

They're sold as pets all over the world..

jump to top m says:

Aw, their so cute. How can we hurt these lil guys?!

If they're endangered, how are they legally sold as pets? Just askin'. They are cute as heck, though. Who knows, maybe in captivity, they don't have the same problems (threats) as in the wild...

jump to top Robert Rowe says:

"Who knows, maybe in captivity, they don't have the same problems (threats) as in the wild..."

I think that's it. Wikipedia lists them as "critically endangered".. but that seems to be because of their habitat, not for reasons similar to pandas (slow reproduction, problems in captivity, etc).

jump to top Anonymous says:

so i herd u liek mudkips

jump to top Anonymous says:

I am also confused how they can be endangered and still sold as pets. At any rate, these little guys are adorable!

jump to top Terri says:

It sucks that they can't stay wild in their native environments, but hopefully being sold as pets and kept in both private and public aquariums will keep them around and make repopulation possible should the environment in those areas improve.

jump to top Tim says:

A little correction about the pronunciation, from Wikipedia -- it should be ah-sho-loh-t'l (to sort of spell out the sounds instead of the standard International Phonetic Alphabet they use). Definitely not aks-oh-laa-tull or aks-oh-lat-ull or anything like that.The name is a Nahuatl (i.e. Aztec) word and 'x' stands for a 'sh' sound in that language.

jump to top Christopher Miller says:

fdafda

jump to top Anonymous says:

It's called evolution. Why does everyone get so emotional about some species/genetics that are being weeded out?

jump to top xugg [TypeKey Profile Page] says:

Up here in Montana we have an area called axolotl lakes were you can find tiger salamanders that stay in the neotonic state, here is a small write up on the area
http://www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/info/newsroom/steward/08spring/axololt.print.html

jump to top Shane says:

LOL, now those are some pretty funny looking creatures!

Jif
www.anolite.echoz.com

jump to top JohnJones says:

@Xugg

It's hardly evolution when the species is going extinct purely due to human interaction..


I mean, if it was dying out because it steadfastly refused to breed.. but it's not. It's all because someone decided they wanted to fish for Carp where they weren't.

jump to top Mr_Redneck says:

they look like pokemon!
anyway, if they're captively bred and legal, where can i get one?

jump to top nuvi says:

It's unfortunately typical of the scientifically illiterate dopes here at treehugger to spread the misunderstanding that it's a fish: it's not, it's a salamander and so an amphibian.

jump to top joplumber says:

Looks like a freakin pokemon.

jump to top erichansa says:

If we were to buck our ideas up, and keep our planet clean, then we wouldn't need to provide protected areas for these or any other creatures.
We are the only creature on the planet that destroys everything around ourselves and then use as many resources as we can destroying that area totally.
Even then we do not move on in a natural way and let the land revive, instead we drags more stuff from other areas around our own little area to support ourselves even when that is destroying some other place as well to do it. One day we will run out of places to collect stuff from.
Also if these creatures were dying out from natural selection and natural die back due to a lack in their own abilities to defend themselves or any other reason then we would let them die out because we wouldn't be able to do anything about it. However natural die back from predators hardly ever destroys the whole population of the food they are trying to catch because as it becomes less in numbers the predator also dies back from lack of food to support it.
Perhaps if we let natural starvation work on our own population and didn't try to help others as we do at the moment then we wouldn't be so many in number. Perhaps were supposed to let the starving die as the planet fights to keep us all alive on the few recources it has to support such a huge population. Callous? Maybe but it would definately be natural selection. Those areas would also then have time to regenerate, wildlife would return and then more food would be available too for a while. I think the planet it trying to tell us there are too many humans about, and because were not listening our food supplies from around the whole planet will one day be too little to support us all and then a massive die back will occur. Nobody would then be able to stop it as there wouldnt be any extra places to produce the food. This planet is on a slippery slope to over population and starvation on a grand scale. I shall be gone before it happens, thankfully.

jump to top Borg says:

The Abilene Zoo in Texas got some of these little guys a few months back, but I didn't know anything about them. It's sad to hear about their decrease, but kinda cool that our zoo got some!

jump to top Amie says:

"It's unfortunately typical of the scientifically illiterate dopes here at treehugger to spread the misunderstanding that it's a fish: it's not, it's a salamander and so an amphibian."

Dude, read the FIRST LINE OF THE ARTICLE. It says "salamander", it even gives its scientific name, and then it says that it is "also known as...".

It's not treehugger's fault that the colloquial names of this little beast include the word "fish". the condescension was unnecessary.

jump to top Anonymous says:

I must have one!!

jump to top Anonymous says:

It's unfortunate that human impact has decreased the numbers of axolotls. They are cool little creatures, but kinda creepy when you come up on them by accident.

I think it all comes down to values. What do you value more, plant and animal life? Human life? I don't necessarily believe that it has to be one or the other, but we all could do better without completely giving up life as we know it.

Be very conscious of your impact, think green, act green when you can, encourage others to do so, be gentle with the landscape and with each other.

jump to top Che says:

What a beautiful creature.
I like the pink one.
Wonder why they're dying?
Maybe their numbers will increase
in zoos. Too bad they don't do well
free.

thanks from tony

jump to top ntopics says:

It says one of the main reasons for decline are waterways contaminated with wastewater. I would like to point out that everyone should vote yes for bond issues regarding their water and wastewater treatment plants. Getting these plants up to peak standards is a priority!

jump to top James J. says:

Treehugger or not, who WOULDN"T want to save that little face? Someone call Pixar! Proceeds from those sales alone could save these little guys. Kids would go NUTS for that little face. ;) C.

jump to top Celeste says:

Its really weird that people have a desire to keep other animals, usually that are deemed "cute", in controlled environments for their own enjoyment.

jump to top Anonymous says:

Am I the only one who finds them creepy? They sort of look like human embryos...

jump to top Anonymous says:

Amazing animal, also it proves that God is likely Japanese.

jump to top Nom_de_Guerre says:

Hi,
Long time ago, more than 10 years ago i ate this animal.
I have to say that it wasn't so delicious but it was good.
It used to be a traditional Mexican dish since Aztec times.

Now a days is very difficult to find on wild; the issue... many people want to eat it, Mexico is getting dry more and more, big lakes became just a memory, human disorder, more need of water and climate change.

The solution: Axolotl farms, i know some people already started.

The right pronunciation in english (the word is and Nahuatl word, aztec language)

Asholoth or in Japanese アショロツル

Places to find it: Tlaxcala State, Hidalgo State, Puebla State, Mexico City and Morelos State... i hope so.

THEY ARE CUTE I WANT ONE THEY SMILE

jump to top leslie says:

I guess there cute in their own way but it looks pretty creepy to me. I wouldn't want to wake up with it staring at me.

jump to top Anonymous says:

One of the distinguishing characteristics of the axolotl is that it spends its entire life in this form, which is a juvenile/larval form for other salamander species. While amphibians generally adopt a more land-dwelling habit on adulthood, the axolotl is a breeding adult while retaining the 'larval' characteristics of having external gills and a water-adapted tail.

The specimens found in pet stores are often juvenile tiger salamanders, and not axolotl. Given enough time, they will undergo metamorphosis to take their adult form.

Preservation of biodiversity can sometimes be seen as a purely aesthetic stance with no real relevance to practical human concerns. Such a perception ignores the role of endangered species as indicators of general environmental degradation that will eventually catch up to us all. In addition, the homogenization of biomes with introduced species may transform hitherto-insignificant species into economically or epidemiologically threatening pests.

jump to top Daniel Kim says:

Near exinction? Oh no. I really hope it works out for these cuties. They are unique creatures.

jump to top Signe says:

Makes me want to run one over with a truck.

then back up on it...

jump to top Astral_JL says:

Man, just another sad story about man and nature not playing well together. Cute or not, this is just another example of man's over encroachment of a species natural habitat, with no regard to extinction, with no concrete method of fixing the problem. Sad really.

jump to top Time Tracker says:

Its so cute :D I hope we can saves eet.

jump to top Anonymous says:

This is like the awsomest fish I have ever seen I hope that this socalled fish pop grows

jump to top breanna says:

Wow, I didn't know these existed, and they are so cool-looking. How are they endangered yet also sold as pets? So odd.

jump to top Linda says:

They are so cute! I want one!!!!!!!!:)

jump to top Keara says:

Imagine having one of this things for breakfast everyday..yammi..I bet they taste just like chiken..lol

jump to top Tim says:

As the world evolves, so do the species of the world....this little guy doesn't look too tough. Somebody help him!

jump to top Anonymous says:

I'm doing a research paper on the extinction of fish
if any of you have some good information email me at
karleyisenberg@yahoo.com

jump to top Karley says:

They're precious!
How much do they cost????

jump to top Anonymous says:

omg! the are so cute! i am doing a report on axolotls right now as I type. they are so cute and awesome, and they smile all the time!

jump to top Nick says:

Search for axolotl on Youtube and check out the pet videos. Suddenly, they're not so cute anymore.

jump to top Kimberly says:

wow..what the kind of fish there? Cute fish but make me scared because it a bit like monster. Is this fish biting?

jump to top kabon says:

i got someones, i am from mexico and they are still selling them in some "drugstores", they make make medicine with them (to heal the cough)...that's crue :(, by the way, here one of those animals cost about 25 dlls or so

jump to top karla says:

OMG THESE FISHYS ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE. I AM DOING A REPORT ON "THE MEXICAN WALKING FISH" FOR JOURNALISIM RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!

jump to top MADDY says:

Why do people want to own one? Surely collecting them as pets is hardly going to improve their situation in the wild. Removing them from their natural habitat will just give people the excuse to further degrade these areas.

It amazes how ignorant some people are when it comes to these situations. This just seems to be the same as when pixar made Nemo and the sales of clown fish sky rocketed - talk about missing the point.

One question. Wouldn't you rather see a cool animal like this in the wild than in a glass tank?

jump to top Phil Martin says:

Oh my gosh, what IS it with people who see a creature like this and say, "it's so CUTE, I WANT one !" How about, "it's so cute, how can we save this species from extinction?" You don't have to own or put something in a cage or aquarium to appreciate or respect it !

jump to top Ivy Green says:

Thanks for drawing attention to one of the many (relatively) unknown animals that is in danger of going extinct. I linked to this post here:

http://www.iongroup.com/blog/random-post-of-the-day-the-cutest-fish-youll-ever-see/

jump to top Elizabeth Pandolfi says:

The correct pronunciat is AX-Oh-Lotl. Just as it says in the article. I can't speak for the original aztec pronounciation. But in science and among hobbyists, its the latter pronounciation thats used.

Please refer to this site for more information on them in captivity..

http://www.axolotl.org/

They are available as pets world wide because they are extensively bred by universities and hobbyists.

Please vist Caudata.org for more information on how to acquire these fascinating animals as a pet and for proper husbandry and diet.

They are going extinct in their natural habitat. Not from the world in general. Because of their regenerative abilities they are extensively studied and bred.

I'm not a scientist or geneticist but I would venture to guess that after all these decades of breeding in laboratories and in places like Australia that does not allow any more imports the gene pool and genetic redundancy has been affected to at least some extent.
Sharon

jump to top Sharon says:

they are not as cute as they look lol. They are mean and fiesty and will wipe out your fish tank. However it is sad that they are endangered.

jump to top G-Rimes says:

there are many animals that are endangered and still sold as pets in the U.S through captive breeding programs and in europe as wild caught,yet they wont let us captive breed them and send them back to where they are threatened ,just food for thought knowledge is power

jump to top Anonymous says:

You guys do know that creature is just the premature salamander right? The only reason it's special is not because of what is said in the article but only because it has the appearance of a young salamander while having the ability to grow mature and functional reproduction organs. So in short, these things are kid salamanders that can mate and reproduce. This is not the first occurrence because many other insects also show this property

jump to top Anonymous says:

God gave man this earth. It dosen't mean that we should go destroying everything, but the scriptures do say that God gave man dominion over the fish of the sea. (Genesis 1:26)

jump to top Anonymous says:

that is awsome

jump to top jess says:

sooo cute.
these guys should definitely be helped.
We cannot afford to lose yet another
species.

Every single creature
is crucial.

jump to top yuppers says:

They are not sold as pets, similar looking species like the mudpuppy are, but these are not.

jump to top Jaxsen says:

They are not sold as pets, similar looking species like the mudpuppy are, but these are not.

jump to top Jaxsen says:

when did man not become part of nature. if a pride of lions ate the last zebra is that nature.

jump to top Gino says:

awwwww how cute!!!!! o[^-^]o
i want one so bad, and they SMILE too!!!!!

jump to top lilly says:

OMG!!! these little creatures are soooooo cute! I want one. but it's really sad that they are endangered.:(

jump to top Lindsey Hangoo says:

These things are the most cutest things in the world
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I just cant belive that they would sell an endangered species????

jump to top Skittle says:

hey y is this salamander going extinked

jump to top Amelia says:

That look cute and the color is pink albino fish..

jump to top beloed [TypeKey Profile Page] says:

OMG!!! these are the cutest fish ever!!!! my friend and i are doing
our science project!!!! they are soooooooooo cute!!!!!!

jump to top alicia says:

These are the cutest fishes EVER!!!! OMG! i totally want 1 or 2 or 3!!! I totally love them!!! :)

jump to top alicia says:

to me these things look like freaks

jump to top Michael says:

I have one of these in my fish tank. ive had Theloneus for a while now :) he seems very happy.

jump to top Anonymous says:

HOW can you be a tree hugger and 'want one', animals aren't for our possession. That type of mentality is why we have an issue with their coming extinction, total disregard and disrespect for their being. Gosh. People wake up!

jump to top Goddess says:

i have 4 of these hahahahahahaha realy cute

jump to top lee says:

In response to erichansa.... I don't think letting those people that are hungry starve to death would really solve anything. The people that have money and can therefore afford to feed themselves are the ones that are doing the most harm to earth. I live in North America. My wife and I make a decent living, we have 2 vehicles, a 1400sq. ft house that we heat all winter(January s gas bill was $700), and we consume. I am not going hungry. Now lets look at someone who lives in Zimbabwe with a very small carbon foot print.
I agree that Earth cannot continue to let us populate, but the wrong people are going hungry.

jump to top James says:

Sorry, I meant Borg. I'm not used to the name being at the bottom of the comment.

jump to top James says:

while i agree it is wrong to keep animals in captivity, there are far more people in the world that cannot get enough of keeping "exotic" pets. The market for them will never die. with that said, i think that as long as you do your very best to give your pet a good home and take care of all of its needs then its alright. i feel good knowing that the animals I own have good lives and were not sold to some idiot who would forget to feed them/clean there cages/give them enough attention. i have one of these in an aquarium and he is very happy, and very healthy. i take very good care of my animals, and they will probably live longer then they would in the wild becuase of the attention and care i give to them

jump to top Hannah says:

In my home country, a lot of species is endangered by extinction too.
Human just don't understand how their life is so affected by nature.

jump to top Ari says:

I have one of these in my fish tank. ive had Theloneus for a while now :) he seems very happy.

my father and brother were fishing in south haven michigan saturday4-18-09 and they caught 4 of these i wanted to know if they are ok to live in michigan

jump to top mist robinson says:

This is great article thanks for sharing very nice and informative.

If the same sea water I guess it will live longer.

jump to top tnomeralc web design toys says:

I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.

jump to top auto says:

why must these little creatures die? i mean come on they r sooooo cute!
WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY WHY?????
i think ive made my point

jump to top Anonymous says:

NIce post hhh

jump to top tukang nggame says:

yaaaaaaaaaaaa

jump to top Anonymous says:

Your article is great. Thanks a lot for sharing.

i love mexican walking fish, they are so cool and i love them. i can't belive they are endangerd that sucks. i want one so bad.


I love mexican walking fish, they are the best animal i have ever seen. they are so sexy... if i ever get 1 i will name him jimmy.

jump to top Zach/ Nate says:

they are so cool i want one so bad

jump to top Zach/ Nate says:

I found a bunch of them in a creek in monroe ohio, i caught 4 of them and they are now in nice fish tanks with no threats, now knowing they are endangered im going to go catch a lot more of them, wait for them to get bigger then adopt them out :)

jump to top Bethany says:

How can we hurt them. LET THEM WILD. but there cut.

jump to top jess from primary school says:

Although they are almost gone they're really ugly
I would never ever buy my kid one.

jump to top shunta says:

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