Axolotl
Ambystoma mexicanum
Where is it found?
Freshwater lakes and ponds
Diet and foraging method
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Axolotls locate their prey by smell and snap at the animal when they get close enough to it.
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Key adaptations
Axolotls use a number of senses to find prey in the aquatic environment, including vision and detecting electric fields and chemical cues.
Social organisation and mating system
Solitary
Polygamous
Did you know that...?
Axolotls retain many features of the larva throughout their life, and unlike most salamanders, live their whole life in the water.
Taxonomy
Picture credits:
Maps from: http://species.mol.org/species/
"Axolotl Portrait" by LoKiLeCh - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Axolotl_Portrait.jpg#/media/File:Axolotl_Portrait.jpg
"Ambystoma mexicanum at Vancouver Aquarium" by ZeWrestler - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ambystoma_mexicanum_at_Vancouver_Aquarium.jpg#/media/File:Ambystoma_mexicanum_at_Vancouver_Aquarium.jpg
"Ambystoma.mexicanum.eggs" by User:Sarefo - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ambystoma.mexicanum.eggs.jpg#/media/File:Ambystoma.mexicanum.eggs.jpg
"Axolotl Portrait" by LoKiLeCh - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Axolotl_Portrait.jpg#/media/File:Axolotl_Portrait.jpg
"Ambystoma mexicanum at Vancouver Aquarium" by ZeWrestler - Own work. Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ambystoma_mexicanum_at_Vancouver_Aquarium.jpg#/media/File:Ambystoma_mexicanum_at_Vancouver_Aquarium.jpg
"Ambystoma.mexicanum.eggs" by User:Sarefo - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ambystoma.mexicanum.eggs.jpg#/media/File:Ambystoma.mexicanum.eggs.jpg
