Please enjoy the email meant for Wednesday everyone! We're focusing here on axolotls on the request of Pride!
The axolotl, also known as Ambystoma mexicanum is an paedomorphic salamander. Or in less scientific speak it means they have such a slow sexual materity that they never leave puberty in a way. This means the axolotl never goes through metamorphosis and instead of taking to land as most salamanders do, they remain gilled and fully aquatic. They show this by keeping their external gills, shown below, a trait found within salamander larvae.
A sexualy mature axolotl can range from 6 to 18 inches in length but usually is about 9 to 12 inches. They also have a caudal fin, another trait of salamander larvae. The axolotl have four pigment genes that when mutated and mixed create their own variations. The five most common color variations of these are pink and pale with black eyes, golden with gold eyes, grey with black eyes, plae with red eyes, and a darker grey to almost blue color. They also feed by suction
One of the features of the axolotl that makes it so interesting to humans is their amazing regeneration ability. This healing ability is amazingly effective, being used over the course of several months to even going so far replacing an entire limb, as long as another limb of the same use still remains. It's even been documented as axolotls replacing damaged parts of their brain. They are a perfect model of limb replacement in vertebrates and are being studied currently.
Hope everyone enjoyed the email!