DECEMBER 2018 • LONGISLANDPRESS.COM 97
AXOLOTLS:
FASCINATING BUT ENDANGERED
Gutterman Funeral Homes are one of the largest family owned funeral homes in America. Since 1892 the Gutterman family has instilled dedicated service with a
personal touch to the Jewish community which has now spanned over 120 years. Still today, commitment to excellence and knowledgeable funeral directors is
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Call our Main Ofce to schedule your personal, condential appointment. Christopher M.Tombline Executive Manager of Gutterman Funeral Homes
516.764.9400
1895 Flatbush Ave. 1 Block north of
Kings Highway
BY JUNGLE BOB
AXO-WHAT-L?
Axolotls are bizarre:what they look
like, how they exist, where they come
from, and how and why they recently
became so popular. Never heard of
them? No worries, you will soon,
as these strange amphibians have
captured the hearts of pet owners
because they are low maintenance,
easy to keep, and fascinating to look at.
Axolotls are actually members of
the salamander family, and like all
amphibians, are born in the water
and go through a metamorphosis.
Starting as eggs, on to gilled tadpoles/
larval stages, then to air-breathing
adults. But not the axolotl!
These animals that are native to
only two small lakes in the Valley of
Mexico take a shortcut. Their metamorphosis
takes an abrupt stop at the
larval stage; they keep their dangling
external gills and spend the rest of
their adult days in the water, taking
their oxygen from the water like a
fish rather than forming lungs and
living on land like salamanders.
These appendages are what attracts
axolotl keepers as axolotls look
like they are from another planet.
But wait, there’s more!
Axolotls are carnivores, and
although they have small teeth and
can bite, they literally suck their prey
down their throats like a vacuum.
They are such aggressive eaters that
they sometimes nip off their siblings’
feet, legs, or worse.
But no worries, again! The axolotl
has unworldly regenerative powers
and can quickly grow back feet, limbs
and tails, making them
highly prized by scientists
and in the medical
community.
Sadly, overpopulation
in Mexico City has led to
the depletion of the water
levels in these lakes and axolotls
have virtually disappeared from
the wild. Now considered critically
endangered, there are few reports
of living wild specimens
in recent
years.
Thankfully, our
fascination with them has kept
the species from extinction.
Axolotls can bear young at
an early age, live up to 20 years and
have hundreds of babies at a time. The
pet industry is steadily increasing
their numbers and
hopefully the
species will continue
in captivity
where it can be
studied
further.
It remains
to be seen what can be learned
from this amazing animal!
Jungle Bob’s Reptile World is
located at 984 Middle Country
Road in Selden. It can be
reached at junglebobsreptileworld.
com 631-737-6474.
PRESS PETS
Axolotls look
like salamanders
from outer space.
(Shutterstock)