Axolotls Discovery

For the first time ever, scientists have discovered Axolotls living in the desert of Sonora. Axolotls are one of the most fascinating amphibians on earth. These animals are named after the Aztec god of lightning, Xolotl, who is said to guide the dead. According to one myth, Xolotl could escape his enemies by turning into this water creature.These animals also fascinate scientists for their ability to regenerate damaged limbs. Axolotls can regrow a leg in about a month! That's useful for these animals because if another axolotl gets too close, the disturbed animal may bite off the intruder's gills or feet. By studying axolotls, scientists may someday learn if it's possible to regrow human limbs, too.Until now, in the wild, axolotls were found exclusively in the high-altitude freshwater lake system of Lake Xochimilco, located near Mexico City. They live in the remaining canals and swampy, shallow waters of that region, having lost almost all of their original habitat to urban development. 

Recently researchers in Mexico and Arizona have made an unexpected discovery in Alamos, Sonora. The crazy part is they weren’t even looking for axolotls. The  team was in the desert looking for a specific plant. During a break in their trek they came across a small pond, and in it were axolotls. This blew scientists away because axolotls have always been linked to the cool freshwater canals of Xochimilco in Mexico City. Finding them in one of the hottest, driest environments on the continent rewrites everything we thought we knew about this species.The researchers are keeping the exact location secret to prevent people from finding or capturing them.

This is an incredible discovery because the axolotls have been a critically endangered species for decades now due to water pollution, habitat degradation, and the introduction of invasive fish (carp and tilapia) that eat their eggs.

The axolotls is not just a cute face (but they do have the most adorable faces) it’s a symbol of Mexican identity, resilience, and survival. And just like this little creature adapting to the harshest conditions imaginable, the Mexican spirit has always found a way.