Considered one of the world’s strangest animals with the ability to self-regenerate damaged tissues and organs, the axolotl is an icon of Mexico.
According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Mexico City, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) has implemented a program to conserve the axolotl species in the natural habitat of this endangered animal.
Regarded as one of the world’s strangest animals with the ability to self-regenerate damaged tissues and organs, the axolotl, also known as the Mexican salamander or the six-horned dinosaur, is an icon of Mexico.
Axolotl 6-horned dinosaur fish has the scientific name Ambystoma mexicanum. Axolotls come in different colors such as gray, brown, white skin (white eyes with black eyes), yellow albino, white albino. In addition, wild Axolotl fish can be black or chocolate brown or cream in color.
Axolotl is a fascinating creature that is worthy of scientific research. The reason is because of his peculiar appearance, regenerative ability and mainly Axolotl having a phenomenon known as neoteny. Normally, amphibians undergo metamorphosis from eggs to larvae (frog tadpoles are larvae). And finally the adult form.
Axolotl, along with several other amphibians, remains in larval form throughout its life. This means it retains its gills and fins. It did not develop the protruding eyes, eyelids, and other adult salamander features. Which grows much larger than a normal larval salamander. And Axolotl can reproduce during this larval stage. Another term to describe this state is “perennibranchiate”. This animal is completely aquatic. Despite possessing rudimentary lungs, it breathes mainly through gills and skin.’
The UNAM Institute of Biology is currently working on promoting the reproduction of this amphibian in the canals of Mexico City.
Although there is less and less evidence for the existence of complete populations, scientists believe that the district of Xochimilco, famous for its canal system and chinampa floating islands, is still home to this endemic species. Most.
According to local authorities, there are still 185 km of canals and 2,700 hectares of chinampa island where Mexican salamanders live.
Xochimilco County Mayor Carlos Acosta said the canals were being cleaned “more than the streets,” and emphasized that cleaning the water costs more than the effort of households collecting garbage.
The axolotl species, scientifically known as Ambystoma mexicanum, is often the subject of medical and biological research into its ability to regenerate damaged parts of the body.
However, many aspects of the lives of these amphibians are still unknown.
Norma Moreno Mendoza, an expert from the UNAM Biomedical Research Institute, said that to preserve this species, it is necessary to understand its conditions and reproductive organs. To date, only the morphological description of these parts has been provided, not the functional description.
According to Mexico City’s environmental management agency, there are about 100 axolotl individuals per square kilometer in the wetlands of the Xochimilco district. However, a field survey conducted by UNAM in 2019 recorded only 35 individuals/km2.
Ruben Rojas, an expert from the UNAM Institute of Biology, said that the canals are affected by water pollution, urban development and especially the invasion of alien species, causing the number of axolotls to gradually decrease. level in recent years this species is in danger of extinction.
According to the chronicle of the scientist Alexander Von Humboldt, axolotl lived a lot in pre-Hispanic Mexico.
After the Spanish invasion in 1521, this species was distributed mainly in 7 lake areas in the Valley of Mexico, including Zumpango, Texcoco, Mexico, Xaltocan, Xochimilco, Chalco and Mixquic.
Source: https://kenhthoisu.net
