Cole

C.2
Feb. 8. 16

Axolotls are Important to Society.

By Cole

Many people say that there is no such thing as a real superhero. But there is! In fact, there is a whole
species of salamander that has real life superpowers and abilities that continue to shock and astonish
scientists all over the world. The name of this salamander? The axolotl! Axolotls have been around
for thousands of years, living in Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City. However, they are now critically
endangered, and a 2004 search turned up no axolotls in the wild, meaning that the only ones left are
captive. (Clare, 2016) There are many reasons for their being endangered, but there are also ways
that they can be saved. Axolotls are an important part of society and dont deserve to be endangered.

There are many reasons why axolotls are endangered, and many different groups of people are at
fault, some being tourists, fishermen and people in the Lake Xochimilco community. Wild axolotls only
live in one lake on the entire planet; Lake Xochimilco in southern Mexico City. (Clare) Lake
Xochimilco is home to the floating gardens; which are essentially a big garden that floats in the water.
These gardens were once beautiful and brought in lots of tourists. However, the tourists have since
polluted the floating gardens so much that they are now in ecological ruin. (Booth) The pollution in
Lake Xochimilco has caused many axolotls to die, accidentally choking on a piece of garbage.
According to an article in The Washington Post, On the weekends, the canals are packed with
hundreds of gondoliers poling their brightly painted launches through Mexico Citys version of Venice.
The boats are packed with revelers, drinking beer and eating tacos, dropping their wrappers and
bottles in the water. (Booth) Another reason that axolotls are endangered is that in Mexico and
Japan, fried axolotl is considered a delicacy. In almost all of Mexico, it is common to eat axolotls, and
a restaurant in Yokohama, Japan is famous for their fried axolotl. (Rocket) Now that they are
endangered, the restaurant in Japan breeds axolotls to deep fry them. (Griffiths) An article in
en.rocketnews24 states that, Its no secret that there are a lot of unusual food choices available in
Japan- some of which have upset quite a few people. Chinjuya in Yokohama provides customers with
the opportunity to munch on fried axolotl. (Rocket) This definitely doesnt help matters. Yet another
problem for axolotls is the fact that people have introduced carp and tilapia into Lake Xochimilco to
make fishing easier there. However, the carp and tilapia are both invasive, and they compete with
axolotls for food, and usually win. (Thomassen) An article in Edge Of Existence, a website
specializing in protecting and researching critically endangered animals says, Introduced predatory
fish (such as tilapia and carp) have increased to high abundances...These introduced species have
had a negative impact upon axolotl populations through competition and predation. (Griffiths) All of
these things have resulted in axolotls being listed as critically endangered in the IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species. (IUCN Red List) So the reasons that axolotls are endangered are all the fault of
humans, even though axolotls have done nothing but help humans, as will be explained next.

There are many reasons that axolotls are important to society. Axolotls have the ability to regenerate
any limb perfectly. No species can match their regeneration abilities, which means they are heavily
researched by scientists. (Manly) Professor Stephane Roy, one of the scientists researching
regeneration says, You can cut the spinal cord, crush it, remove a segment, and it will regenerate.
You can cut the limbs at any level- the wrist, the elbow, the upper arm- and it will regenerate, and its
perfect. There is nothing missing, theres no scarring on the skin at the site of the amputation, every
tissue is replaced. They can regenerate the same limb 50, 60, 100 times. And every time: perfect.
(Roy) Because of this amazing ability, scientists are trying to learn how they can regenerate it so well,
and see if there is any way that humans will ever be able to regenerate limbs. (Manly) Axolotls are a
key part of their research and if they were to go extinct, scientists would not be able to go on with this
project, meaning humans will most likely never be able to regenerate limbs. A Scientific American
article states that Humans have a limited ability to regenerate, restricted to our liver and skin...there
is still plenty more work to be done before we get the whole picture and can apply it to other species,
including humans. Axolotls play a big role in this process. (Manly) Axolotls are also 1,000 times more
immune to cancer than mammals. (Manly) Scientists truly believe that if researched thoroughly,
axolotls can even show humans the cure for cancer! I believe that we will be able to improve tissue
healing for burn victims, help eliminate complications for transplants, and even help eliminate cancer.
All of this could happen within the next 10 to 20 years. One day, we will succeed and make the
impossible possible! (Roy) So axolotls have helped us in many ways. This means that there are
things that we must do to help them.

There are many people and groups attempting to save the axolotl before it is too late. One such
attempt was the Darwin project, led by the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology. (Griffiths)
According to their website, their goal is to assist Mexico in the development of a sustainable
development programme to conserve the axolotl and other endemic flora and fauna of Xochimilco
through the promotion of nature tourism. (Kent) Though there is another, bigger proposed solution to
help the axolotls. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species advises that all critically endangered
species have an ex situ population. According to Edge of Existence, an ex situ population is a
breeding colony of a species maintained outside its natural habitat, giving rise to individuals from that
species that are sheltered from problems associated with their situation in the wild. This can be
located within the species range or in a foreign country that has the facilities to support a captive
breeding programme for the species. (Griffiths) However, there are many troubles and challenges
that come with this. As Edge of Existence explains, the reintroduction of captive-bred axolotls is not
recommended until threats can be neutralised and disease and genetic risks to wild populations
assessed. Furthermore, captive bred populations lose affinity for their wild habitat with each
successive generation away from their wild descendents. Most captive bred populations of axolotls
bear little resemblance to their wild ancestors, especially the leucistic (or albino) varieties. It is hopeful
that axolotls are known to readily breed in captivity, rendering a captive breeding programme for
conservation purposes a viable option, but any such programme should ideally utilise wild caught
individuals to give resulting progeny the best chance of survival in the wild. (Griffiths) So there are
some conservation attempts underway to save axolotls, who have been widely considered some of
the most interesting animals in the world.

There are many reasons why axolotls are some of the strangest, most interesting creatures on the
planet. Axolotls have feathery branches sprouting out of their head. Though these may seem crazy
and ridiculous, scientists like Roy, Griffiths and Yago Partal have discovered that they serve a
purpose; these branches are actually the axolotls gills! This makes axolotls one of the only aquatic
animals with gills protruding from their head. The axolotls gills are also quite unusual. Did you notice
the fancy headdress? Well, that is what they use to breathe underwater. (Partal) Axolotls also display
a very rare ability called neoteny. Simply put, this means that axolotls dont grow up, or they never
mature. The features that they are born with are the features that they stay with their entire lives. It
would be like if a tadpole stayed a tadpole its entire life and never became a frog. (Partal) Neoteny
also means that axolotls are fully mature just weeks after they are born, since they dont mature. This
means that axolotls can reproduce from a very young age, helping explain why they can reproduce so
fast. (Clare) Axolotls can reach sexual maturity without undergoing a full metamorphosis, imagine if
you could hold on to teenage features throughout your life So, for example, their limbs remain
underdeveloped, their tail is rather a caudal fin, and unlike other salamanders or toads, axolotls keep
using their gills and stay in the water, in spite of growing lungs. Therefore, it is a perennibranchiate
(meaning retaining gills throughout life) salamander. (Partal) However, in some occasions, axolotls
actually do go through metamorphosis, meaning they lose their gills and develops eyelids. (Clare)
Another unique thing about axolotls is that they have a mythological background. It was named the
axolotl because of the Aztec god Xolotl, who was the ferryman of the dead in the underworld. It
caught the attention of the Aztecs because of its awesome abilities and unique looks, and they
believed that the axolotl was the embodiment of Xolotl. (Partal) According to John Clare, axolotl
researcher, One legend says that the god, Xolotl got mixed up in the political affairs of the other gods
and feared he would be banished or lose his life. He decided to transform himself into an Axolotl to
elude capture. The ancient Aztec believed that, due to the Axolotls strange look and regenerative
powers, axolotls were the manifestation of the god Xolotl and resemble the lake system that
sustained them, many Aztec thought axolotls were a gift of food, supplied for them in this lake
system. (Clare) So axolotls have lots of unique powers and abilities that make them so unique. For
precisely this reason, many people want axolotls as pets. This affects axolotls in many ways.

Axolotls are sold as pets, and this can sometimes be safe for axolotls but sometimes unsafe,
depending on the experience of the company selling the axolotls. It is legal to keep axolotls as pets,
even though they are critically endangered. (Guglielmelli) This can definitely be a bad thing for
axolotls since many people do not have the experience or knowledge to properly care for an axolotl.
In an interview with co-founder of A Lotl Axolotls (an axolotl breeding company), Michael Guglielmelli
said, There are many things to learn before you get an Axolotl just like with any other pet. Two of the
more important things to know are that you must cycle your Aquarium which ensures you are creating
a safe and stable environment. Second, other aquatic animals don't get along well with Axolotls
because they tend to try and eat the external gills. If the owner does know how to care for an axolotl
well, then there really isnt a problem with it. Sadly, a majority of owners do not care for their axolotls
well, and many axolotls die due to owner mistreatment. Luckily, axolotls breed very quickly and
easily, so there are not very many unsafe breeding conditions. According to Michael, As long as you
have excellent water quality and you are feeding them a nutritious diet they will breed on their own.
Shipping the axolotls is another story. Many axolotl breeders are less experienced than A Lotl
Axolotls and many axolotls die due to being unsafely shipped. (Guglielmelli) On axolotl shipping at A
Lotl Axolotls, Michael says, We have discovered a specific shipping method with a unique oxygen to
water ratio which allows us to obtain a perfect success rate when shipping. In general, though you
would need to place them in aquarium grade shipping bags. Place them in a box heavily insulated
and ship with a courier who cares for the animals safety just as much as you do. (Guglielmelli)
Unsafe axolotl breeders and sellers are another big problem, and dont help axolotls in their quest to
repopulate. At this rate, axolotls are going to go extinct soon. This will be very bad for a number of
reasons, as will be explained.

If axolotls were to go extinct, the human race would suffer negatively in many ways. The first reason
that we cant lose axolotls are the scientific research. As previously mentioned, axolotls are being
used to help scientists learn about regeneration and even study possible cures for cancer. If axolotls
were to go extinct, this research could not continue, putting a massive hindrance on studying cures
for cancer and regeneration. Axolotl researcher and conservation worker Luis Zambrano says, I
wouldnt work on this if I didnt believe they (axolotls) could help save lives...Axolotls are interesting
beyond regeneration because they seem to cheat aging. They retain juvenile features, such as their
skin and gills, until they die." (Zambrano) This shows that axolotls are very important to scientific
research. Unfortunately, they are being stolen from the labs that they are being studied in, since
fishermen are so desperate to get their hands on an axolotl. (Zambrano) According to fisherman
Roberto Altamirano, Many fishermen are willing to steal axolotls from laboratories because its too
hard to find them in the wild these days...There is no monitoring in Xochimilco. Its a lawless land.
(Altamirano) So there is a good chance that axolotls will go extinct even from laboratories. Another
group that would suffer from this is the people of Lake Xochimilco. The borough of Xochimilco gets
lots of its income from tourists coming to see the floating gardens, and, more importantly, axolotls.
(Booth) So if axolotls were to officially be declared extinct, many tourists wouldnt go to Xochimilco,
causing the locals to lose lots of their income. Even more, axolotls play a large part in the culture of
Lake Xochimilco. Axolotl writer Diana Ferrero writes, The people of Xochimilco had many traditions
involving axolotls, such as frying them and using them in traditional folk medicines. (Ferrero) Though
these traditions only involve more harm to the axolotls, it would still negatively affect the people,
because they would have to say goodbye to an age-old tradition. Zambrano sums up this whole
situation nicely, stating that, If we lose Xochimilco, we lose the axolotl...If we lose the axolotl, well
probably lose Xochimilco. (Zambrano) If axolotls go extinct, not only will scientists be affected, but a
whole cultural group of people that used the axolotl in many of their traditions.

In conclusion, axolotls have done so many things to help humans, and in return all weve done is
made them critically endangered. Though these animals arent very well-known or common, they
deserve to live just as much as any other creature. It just isnt fair that weve gotten them into this
much danger even though they didnt do anything bad to us. Imagine helping a species that is killing
off your species as it researches upon you. That is basically what axolotls have to deal with. They do
so many amazing things that we just ignore. Sadly, this wondrous creature will go extinct if we dont
do anything about it. Fortunately, its not too late to get axolotls out of the disaster weve created for
them. So, as axolotl conservation worker Andrew Blaustein says, Axolotls are one of the little
creatures that make us smile and bring a little joy to our day. With a lot of hard work, we can keep
these little guys swimming upstream. (Blaustein)