Image of axolotl in in lake Xochimilco
By Amandasofiarana - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=43613794
Axolotls originated in the freshwaters of Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco in the Valley of Mexico. However, only a small percentage of its native habitat today; Lake Chalco was drained as a flood prevention measure in the 20th century. It's only other native habitat, Lake Xochimilco has been drained a large amount, and now exists mostly as canals. Lake Xochimilco is now a biological reserve, and a UNESCO World Heritage Sight.
The water temperature in Lake Xochimilco sits at around 6-7 C in winter, or 43-45 F, and rarely crosses 20 C or 68F in summer. The water quality is extremely poor, as a result of pollution from expansion and urbanization. This combined with increasing population of invasive species like tilapia has mean that the wild population of Axolotls has continued to decrease.
Despite the low number of wild axolotls, there are many in captivity as pets, due to their unique looks.
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