Habitat

Axolotl in Lake Xochimilco

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

Origin

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.

Conditions

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.

Axolotl distribution

Axolotl Distribution Map
"Axolotl distribution map.svg" by OpenStreetMap contributors is licensed under CC BY 4.0. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons on February 17, 2025.

Axolotl in captivity:

Axolotl in Captivity
"Axolotl-2193331 1280.webp" by LaDameBucolique is licensed under CC0 1.0. Retrieved from Wikimedia Commons on 17, Feb 2025

Sound of an axolotl "burp", or gulping air

Check out this video to see what Lake Xochimilco, the last natural habitat for Axolotls looks like today.

Check out this Wikipedia Article for more about Axolotls, or this Wikipedia Article for more about Lake Xochimilco!

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