Pet Axolotl is Safe but Endangered in Wild

Pet Reptile and Amphibian Breeding Saves Species but not Habitat

Sep 2, 2009 John Blatchford

Axolotls are curious salamanders that never grow up. They are bred for the pet trade and scientific research, but are almost extinct in the wild.

The axolotl evolved in freshwater lakes that were cold and surrounded by inhospitable dry ground. The larval form rarely metamorphoses and is capable of reproducing without leaving the water.

Wild Axolotls

Wild Mexican Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) only live around Mexico City. They were once numerous in two high altitude freshwater lakes, Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco.

Lake Chalco was drained to avoid flooding, and Xochimilco only survives as a number of polluted canals.

Mexico City is still expanding rapidly with inevitable pollution of these canals from sewage and agricultural runoff.

The future of these wild animals is precarious (only around 1,000 individuals are thought to survive in their natural habitat).

Pet Reptiles and Amphibians

There is a thriving trade in pet reptiles and amphibians, and large numbers of axolotls are captive bred. They are readily available, and hobbyists even have their own website which gives information on housing, feeding, and breeding them. This website also deals with the biology of axolotls and the genetics of the various coloured varieties that are available. There is a good reading list and further web links.

Axolotls in Research

Many axolotls are bred for the pet trade, but even more are destined for medical and zoological research.

Axolotls can fully regenerate many parts of their body. Growing a new leg is no problem! This makes them very interesting subject for medical research.

Axolotls have very large and tough embryos, making them very suitable for basic research in embryology and the details of cell differentiation.

Axolotls Almost Extinct or Widespread

This is a very interesting situation – the axolotl will be hard-pressed to survive much longer in the wild, but its future is rosy as far as captive breeding is concerned. How should this be considered? Are they on the verge of extinction – or is their survival guaranteed?

Other Animals Facing Extinction

Many species are critically endangered in the wild, but some of them are being bred successfully by hobbyists and enthusiasts, or in zoos around the world.

Eventually some species might be re-introduced into suitable conserved habitats, but often this is problematic – particularly for species that learn how to survive in the wild from their mother. Regular zoo meals do not train animals how to hunt or forage.

If a species is extinct in the wild, but can still be seen in captivity, what is the problem? Perhaps the real concern should be for the habitat and ecosystem of the wild version.

No species of animal lives in isolation from the millions of other living things that surround it. Some will be predators, some food, others parasites etc. Allowing any single species to disappear from its natural habitat will always have implications (often just as bad as introducing new, invasive, species). Even reintroducing from captive stocks has its problems.

Axolotls are probably due to become extinct in the wild very soon, and their demise raises important questions about habitat preservation.

Reference: ‘Recent decline and potential distribution in the last remnant area of the microendemic Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum)’ Victoria Contreras, Enrique Martínez-Meyer, Elsa Valiente, and Luis Zambrano - ScienceDirect 08/2009

also : BBC EARTH NEWS

BNC101

The copyright of the article Pet Axolotl is Safe but Endangered in Wild in Zoology is owned by John Blatchford. Permission to republish Pet Axolotl is Safe but Endangered in Wild in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.