November 3, 2008
Axolotl's last stand?
The axolotl, also known as the "water monster" and the "Mexican walking fish," was a key part of Aztec legend and diet. Against all odds, it survived until now amid Mexico City's urban sprawl in the polluted canals of Lake Xochimilco, now a Venice-style destination for revelers poled along by Mexican gondoliers, or trajineros, in brightly painted party boats.From Discovery News.But scientists are racing to save the foot-long salamander from extinction, a victim of the draining of its lake habitat and deteriorating water quality. In what may be the final blow, nonnative fish introduced into the canals are eating its lunch -- and its babies.
Posted by David on November 3, 2008 9:30 PM
As with so many other species in this chaotic, overpopulated and polluted world, survival in captive breeding programs will be the most effective, perhaps only way to save this interesting animal. Fortunately, it is an easy keeper and can br bred in aquaria and has found use as a laboratory animal. Of course the destruction of its Mexican habitat, the introduction of foreign cichlids such as Tilapia, when native Mexican cichlids exist, as well as Asian carp, is singlarly criminal and very sad. We are not immune from the same destructveness and one only has to look at what has become of Florida and elsewhere to have a sense of the "internationalism" of ecologic misery.
Posted by: Donald Wolberg on November 9, 2008 8:45 AM
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