Axolotl: Mexico’s Metamorphosis

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Speaker 1: Hello, I'm Rich Schwartz. Hi, I'm Abdy Money. Welcome to Amazing Wildlife, where we explore unique stories of wildlife from around the world and uncover fascinating animal facts. This podcast is a production of I Heart Radio and San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, in international nonprofit conservation organization behind the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park. This next species has fascinated people for centuries. It defies typical biological laws such as metamorphosis, and has inspired folklore and has gained newfound fame thanks to a popular video game In Nature. This rare amphibian is only found in Mexico. Today, we're talking about the acelatto and what makes it so unique, Rick. The accelatto is also known as the Mexican walking fish, but that's somewhat of a misnomer. What's the more, are accurate classification for the axcel ato, Yes, ebony. Their nickname does lead us to believe there might be some sort of fish or something, but believe it or not. Axl Attles are a type of salamander, and salamanders are a group of amphibians typically characterized by their lizard like appearance with slender bodies, blunt snout, short limbs, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults. Some people will even say that salamanders look like a cross between a lizard and a frog because of their moist, smooth skin like a frog's and long tails like a lizard's. I definitely see the lizard connection. So what is it, Rick, that distinguishes a salamander from a lizard, Well, ebony, It's fair to say that at first glance, salamanders look like they are a type of lizard. I mean, I even said they have lizard like appearances for limbs, lizard like tail, and so on. But there are some significant differences. For instance, when you look at the skin of a salamander, it's moist and smooth, where a lizard skin is naturally dry, iron has scales. Another visual queue is to look for an external ear opening on the side of the head. Lizards usually have these, but salamanders do not. One other thing lizards have that salamanders lack claws on their toes. These are just some of the obvious outward appearing differences. There are, of course, differences in their internal structures as well. Rick, the axil lotto is culturally revered in parts of Mexico. Where in Mexico are axilattle found in nature. These charismatic amphibians once inhabited the high altitude lakes around Mexico City, but at this time they're only found in a few spring fed canals and waterways in the area. Most research suggests that due to habitat degradation, pollution, and the divergence of water for agriculture has created many challenges for the axilattle. It was estimated that their population in the wild was between seven hundred and one thousand, two hundred individuals, but a more recent study done in two thousand nineteen suggests that number is probably a lot lower. So the ax al attle never leaves the water. Just a few episodes back, in earlier episode, we covered the Chinese giant salamander, which also stays in its aquatic environment. How common or uncommon is it for an amphibian to remain in the water throughout its entire life. Well, honestly, ebany, it's not that common for an amphibian to spend its whole life underwater. When we think about amphibians such as frogs, toads, nuts, and other salamanders, we usually think of the adults that have lungs and breathe air. They lay eggs in the water that when they hatch, produce a larvae or tadpole, depending upon the species. At this stage they have gills and standard water and are unable to reproduce. But eventually they mature out of that stage, morphing into life above water with lungs instead of gills, and are considered adults at that time capable of reproduction. But in the case of the axelttle, their development is a little different. They mature to a reproductive stage without undergoing the normal process of metamorphosis for a land based adult life, a condition that's called at which is basically defined as the retention of juvenile features in the adult animal. Rick is neatony. What causes the axelts face to look so innocent? Honestly, they're really cute. Well, maybe I want to clarify for those listening. Axe lottels are well known for their quote unquote smiling baby face. Look. I recommend that you do an image search when you have a chance and specifically look at their face. Yes, do that, Yeah, right, They're so cute. They seem to have this permanent youthful soft smile. Now, is that youthful soft smile result of being a species that doesn't develop into a full adult phase. Maybe. I mean, Peter Pan seemed pretty happy. He never grew up right right. Regardless of the cause, though, there is plenty of research that shows we humans have a natural soft spot in heart for what is considered traditional baby features. This visual stimulus creates a caretaker response in humans. So hopefully the acts laudels natural state of looking like a young, smiling animal will help people get more involved with the current conservation efforts, hopefully. But Rick, is that a common thing and when it comes to conservation of animals that animals that are maybe considered cute get more support from the general public. I think at first, yes, I think that people can connect more emotionally right off the bat if they consider an animal looking cute. And so we do see general public interest in those that quote unquote fit that cute dynamic. But it's our responsibility, as what we're doing here with this podcast, to make sure everyone is aware that all species really need our help. So regarding neotany, in the neotny condition, there's an interesting theory about how it has helped some species survive. Can you help explain how staying in a more infant like state maybe a survival adaptation? Well, I meany. There is an example of how it did help with long term survival of one species called the badger salamander, And although it is only one example, I think it's a really good one to kind of help us understand why this might happen and how it can then help that species. So there is a human made reservoir in Wisconsint called Badger Reservoir. This is a very large open water reservoir and it's an inviting space of course for wildlife, and provides easy entry for salamanders looking for a safe place to lay their eggs. But plot twist. There is a wide lip along the edge of the reservoir, making it absolutely impossible for adult salamanders to leave the water when their eggs hatched. The offspring that metamorphosed into the usual land dwelling adult form with lungs to breathe while they would die because they wouldn't be able to swim for long enough in the deep water and eventually pass away. But somehow others managed to survive through neatny or by reaching reproductive maturity without developing into that last adult stage and therefore not needing to leave the water to survive. That's very interesting. Like other salamanders, science seems to look at the axilatto for signs of the state of the environment. Rick, what can be learned about the environment by studying axel house Yes, that's correct, debony. Like all amphibians, their health is directly connected to the health of the waterways that they live in. Pollution of any kind that enters a waterway can easily be a threat to the overall health of the axilatte. In regions where there is poor waste regulation that allow trash, plastics, heavy metals, and chemicals to spill into the canals where the axe lattels live, we see populations decline. When you couple these influences with climate change that has impacted water cycles due to droughts, well, we can see why the axe latte is critically endangered in general. What role do salamanders play in the ecosystem? Because we've learned from past conversations that wildlife is well, I've learned you knew already, but we've learned from previous conversations that wildlife is interconnected, so the disappearance of an animal can sometimes have unexpected consequences. Yes, you're right. Like other species, the axil lotto plays an important role in the food chain of its ecosystem. Now. While they are a food source for other animals, they are also predators. The axe lottle eats insects, small aquatic invertebrates, and small fish, helping to keep those populations balanced, which makes it worth protecting. Coming up, we have a special guest, an Amazing Wildlife Young listener will have a chance to chat with Rick about her favorite amphibian, the axcel atto. That's right after this. Now it's time for the San Diego zoom in. It an opportunity for you to learn what's new at a zoo. Two children's books published by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance Press were honored with the Gold Awards by the Independent Book Publisher Association ib p A at their thirty third annual ibp A Benjamin Franklin Awards. Author Georgian Irvine's Hope and Inspiration collection children's books, Saving Mocha The True Tale of a Rescue Tiger cub one Gold in the Young Reader non fiction eight to twelve year old category and author Carrie Hassler's A Letter from Tashi, a snow Leopard Tale one gold in the children's picture book four to seven year old category. Did you know this species name was adapted from an ancient Aztec language. Here to tell us more about it is San Diego Zoo Wildlife Reliance Ambassador Marco went Hi Marco Hey, Ebony, Yeah, you're absolutely right. Oxy Laudel's name originates from a u do As second language called no what, or as other people know it as no waddle. The traditional pronunciation of the last two letters t l is more of a sound or a case sound. Now this language is spoken by nearly a million people in Mexico. The American English pronunciation of axelatal or even the Spanish variation of alt are not its true origins. Axelatl's traditional pronunciation a sholok originates from a combination of no what, words of water, act and salok, which can translate into dog, companion, page, or even has a reference to unusual or abnormal. As mythical connection is to the god shut the aspect god of fire lightning, and twin brother to quets Aqua. It is said one of the Aztecs creation stories that to avoid being sacrificed, shell Look turned himself into several things to avoid being found by his brother gets the third transformation being that of an Ashluk language, like nature evolves throughout history, whatever pronunciation you adopt, Understanding the heritage and the culture of the name, shall Look or axe Wattle helps us connect further with this wondrous and charismatic species. For the second part of this episode about the ax Lottle, we kind of have a special guest, sort of a unique situation. We often will have kid questions where they send in questions and I'll answer them. But in this case, we're talking to my daughter because she and my co host Ebony, started a conversation about axelttles, and Ebony thought it would be a great idea for you and I have had that conversation for this episode, and so she told the producers that idea, and they thought it was a good idea. So here we are, so Acacia, don't you go ahead and introduce yourself. Tell everybody your name and how old you are. Hi. My name is Akasha and I am ten years old, and I think it's kind of funny because I remember very clearly when you first even learned about the axil level. Can you tell me about that time? So I was really into this game called Minecraft, and they had this new update and it had all sorts of different animals, and they said that there was this new animal called an Axelottel, and so I really want to discover what that was and find it in the Minecraft. And when I did, I was like, whoa, these are really interesting looking creatures. I remember it when you when you first found it too. I heard you're like, Dad, Dad, is this a real animal? Come look at this, because you weren't sure if it was a real animal. It made up once for the game, right yeah. I was like, is this paid up? Yeah? And so that was a while ago, and then ever since, you've kind of always enjoyed finding them in Minecraft. But then earlier this year we ended up with some ax Flottels at the San Diego Zoo and that was kind of exciting because it was a chance to now not to see them on a YouTube video or on a picture online or Minecraft, to see a person huh. Yeah. And when I first heard that, I was like, really, like, my head was like, what in the world. It's actually at the zoo. What do you think it is about the axe flot of that made you so interested in them? I just like how cute their little faces are, and they always look like they're smiling, and the fringes on the gills that are sticking out, it looks like for oh yeah, so they for anybody who doesn't know what they look like. And you're I like the part you set out to smile. I've I've read people have written it looks like they have the Mona Lisa smile. It's a very subtle smiles, like a big giant grin. It's kind of subtle. And then yes, you're right. The gills they stick out almost like um, I wouldn't say like a full mane of a lion, but they kind of stick out around the back part of the head and it kind of looks furry r fringe e like that. Have you heard about because I know you you've kind of looked into it a little bit. With the axles, have you heard about their a bill to regrow a limb? Uh? Yeah, I've heard about it because I learned about lizards and when I first discovered ax laddels, when I heard that. I was like, oh, yeah, that's really cool. Like they can regrow a leg, they can regrow like their tail, and they can regrow like any part of their body. Yeah, that's something that's kind of interesting because you mentioned lizards, because if a lizard loses a limb such as a leg, they can't grow it back, but they can detach their tail purposely and then regrow that and that's a defense mechanism. They leave the tail behind for the predator. But with the axe laddel they could have a limb cut off and the tail doesn't naturally detach. Some part of the tail all the way to the rear end can be removed and they'll regenerate it. They grow it back. It's very interesting. It's so it's similar yet different than the lizard. Yes, why do you think that's important for them? Why do you think they'll be able to do that? Um, just in case like a predator or a human are trying to kill it or something, they might just cut off a part of their body trying to catch it to Okay, Yeah, that's possible and it's interesting. Scientists are still studying and researching why they have the ability to do that. And another question that's imposed, which I think is kind of not something I would want to put an axe lottle through. But the question I read about a scientist was trying to look into was how many times can they regrow a limb? Is it like just forever for the entire life, something keeps bothering and taking off a limb? Can they just keep regrowing? Which I think is again not something I want to put an axe all through, but it is a curious question. Have you ever seen any pictures of or do you know if the axe lotteles have teeth? No, I actually do not. I've never seen any pictures or seen them eat. Yeah, they do have teeth. It's kind of interesting though. The teeth are more for just grabbing and holding onto their food. They don't really bite off pieces of something with those teeth, and they don't chew with those teeth. It's more just for holding on from what I understand with what I've read about them, kind of like uh, alligators and crocodiles. They don't use it for chewing or anything, just use it to try and get it in their mouth. Yeah, that's a good comparison alligators and crocodiles. Definitely don't chew with those teeth, but can hold on very tightly to their prey. That's a good comparison, although I don't think the axil quite has the same jaw strength. We talked about their looks. Is there anything else about the axe law that you think is very interesting? Um? I like their tail because like you can see like the actual tail, and that it has like fins around the tail, which I think is cool because and it looks like their tails like see through almost. Yeah. So they have a long dorsal fin down the back of the tail and then one along the bottom side of the tail. Some people say it kind of looks like the back end of an eel. Would you agree with that? With your observations, here's a fun question for you. Do you think games like Minecraft should introduce more unique animals like the Axeltel? Yes, because when I first found the axe attle, I got very excited because they looked very very pretty too, And um, newer animals like into different games would be like good for other people to learn if they're not very popular yet on what the animals are, and then they might want to go research it because what they see them doing Minecraft, that's true. It's a good point because sometimes people who might be playing video games maybe wouldn't have a natural interest in some unique wildlife, but if they get exposure to it, it's an opportunity for them to learn more and and maybe even an opportunity for the video game companies to help with conservation of those species. What do you think is the most interesting thing about the axel attel? Probably their colors. Why is that? Because there's so many different colors and I'm wondering if their colors like effects on where they live. Yeah, I think you bring up a good point where animal coloration can either help us understand where they live or how they live, or can influence their ability to survive in their environment. And I did read when researching for this more to understand the ax a lot of better. I did read, and I'd have to double check other sources to make sure that this is accurate, but that the pink and white colorations that we tend to see in the axeltels and zoos is a result of them being in human care for multiple generations and not living in the wild. That because those who have lived in human care is a certain lineage of genetics that they have changed slightly over the years, and they carry more the white pink coloration versus those in the wild that are still out there, albeit the numbers are a few tend to be more of the gray green brown coloration. So to your point, they survive better in the wild with that kind of camouflage color. I thought that was kind of interesting. I'm wondering if there's actually any yellow ones because there's yellow ones and Minecraft, but are there actually like really yellow ones, because I feel like that would be a hard color to like blend in with. Yeah, so what I read about them, and I want everyone to know, I have never seen a yellow one in person either, but from what I have read, when they appear yellow, that is actually true albinoism. They have red eyes, and their skin to us looks yellow because it lacks pigment in the way their body is structured, the way the light goes through that lack of pigment skin gives it a yellow color to our eyes. Interesting. Yeah, so the yellow is looking ones probably in Minecraft are replication of being albino, left to jected to give them red eyes. Do you do you remember if the ones in Minecraft have red eyes? I don't know, but I could check to check, I can literally just spawn a bunch of axel red eyes. And you had mentioned to me you had one more question about the ox laudels um. Yes, it is why do the axel alls never grow up so in the sense of they go from egg to their juvenile stage of having gills but never grow up is into having lungs and living out of the water. That's a good question that a lot of sciences are still trying to figure out. Earlier in the episode, Ebony and I mentioned that there are other salamander species that it is assumed this happens because they did not have access to getting out of the water, and so perhaps the only way for them to reproduce was to go ahead and maintain gills and living underwater that way, but then mature enough to be able to reproduce. Usually being able to mature and reproduce also coincides with getting lungs and living outside of water, So scientists are still trying to figure out why the acts of a lot all never goes into what way you would consider an adult phase of body structure, but still maturing to reproduce, but maintains living underwater, which is in salam matters considered juvenile, so it's kind of interesting, and so maybe that's something you can figure out if you go for they're into science. Yeah, because in Minecraft they are in water and you can get them on the land and they will not die. That might just be a Minecraft thing. I think with the ax Lottles they might be able to get out on land for a little bit, but because their whole breathing is through gills only, I think they have to get back in the water sooner than later. Well, thank you so much Acasia for spending some time with me to add to our Axlettle episode, especially since I know you like ax Lottles so much. Thanks. That was really fun. I learned a lot. Do you mean you learned an ax alttle? Thanks for listening. We hope you've enjoyed learning about the ax Alto and be sure to subscribe and tune into next week's episode, in which we bring you the story of the smallest bear alive today, sometimes referred to as the dog Bear. I'm Ebony Money and I'm Rich Schwartz. Thanks for listening. If you would like to find out more about San Diego Zoo wildlaf Alliance, please visit sdz w a dot org Amazing Wildlife. As a production of I Heart Radio. Our producer is Nikia Swinton and our executive producer is Marcy de Peanut. Our audio engineer and editor is Sierra Spring. For more shows from my heart Radio, check out the I heart Radio app, Apple podcast, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.