Mexican Walking Fish (Ambystoma mexicanum) -- fotop.net photo sharing network

Andy Yip :: Mexican Walking Fish (Ambystoma mexicanum)

The ancient Aztecs of Central America gave the name 'axolotl' to this creature. Translated to English, it means 'water monster'. The axolotl is also commonly known as a Mexican Walking Fish because it is found in mexico. This animal is not a fish. It is an amphibian (a mole salamander).

Life as a water monster
The feather-like parts that grow from behind its head are external gills. All salamanders have these in their larval stages and lose them when they leave the water. This also happens when a tadpole turns into a frog. An axolotl does not usually change into terrestrial form like its frog relatives. It completes its whole life-cycle, reproduction and all, in its aquatic larval form. If conditions change drastically (the pond dries up) an axolotl less than 2 years old can change into a terrestrial living salamander. After the age of 2 the animal cannot change and would die in a drought.

These amphibians can live for at least 25 years. They can regrow lost limbs, tails and even gills.

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