Ubercool "Mexican walking fish" Nearing Extinction
by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 11. 5.08
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.
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'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.
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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I WANT ONE!!
They're sold as pets all over the world..
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...
"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).
so i herd u liek mudkips
I am also confused how they can be endangered and still sold as pets. At any rate, these little guys are adorable!
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.
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.
fdafda
It's called evolution. Why does everyone get so emotional about some species/genetics that are being weeded out?
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
LOL, now those are some pretty funny looking creatures!
Jif
www.anolite.echoz.com
@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.
they look like pokemon!
anyway, if they're captively bred and legal, where can i get one?
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.
Looks like a freakin pokemon.
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.
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!
"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.
I must have one!!
They smile. :)
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.
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
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!
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.
Its really weird that people have a desire to keep other animals, usually that are deemed "cute", in controlled environments for their own enjoyment.
Am I the only one who finds them creepy? They sort of look like human embryos...
Amazing animal, also it proves that God is likely Japanese.
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
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.
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.
Near exinction? Oh no. I really hope it works out for these cuties. They are unique creatures.
godzilla
Makes me want to run one over with a truck.
then back up on it...
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.
Its so cute :D I hope we can saves eet.
This is like the awsomest fish I have ever seen I hope that this socalled fish pop grows
Wow, I didn't know these existed, and they are so cool-looking. How are they endangered yet also sold as pets? So odd.
They are so cute! I want one!!!!!!!!:)
Imagine having one of this things for breakfast everyday..yammi..I bet they taste just like chiken..lol
cute
As the world evolves, so do the species of the world....this little guy doesn't look too tough. Somebody help him!
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
They're precious!
How much do they cost????
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!
Search for axolotl on Youtube and check out the pet videos. Suddenly, they're not so cute anymore.
wow..what the kind of fish there? Cute fish but make me scared because it a bit like monster. Is this fish biting?
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
OMG THESE FISHYS ARE SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO CUTE. I AM DOING A REPORT ON "THE MEXICAN WALKING FISH" FOR JOURNALISIM RIGHT NOW!!!!!!!
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?