Due to its geographical characteristics that include mountains, valleys and lakes, Mexico is a megadiverse country that has species that cannot be found anywhere else on the planet. The Mexican axolotl is a clear example of this, although it is not the only species of its kind that inhabits the country. The Mexican achoque is the close cousin of the axolotla creature that almost no one knows and that also needs protection to achieve its conservation.
Able to regenerate their bodies
The Mexican Shock (Ambystoma dumerilii) inhabits only Lake Pátzcuaro in the state of Michoacán and it is included in the list of the 659 species of salamanders of which there is a global record. They are animals that have inhabited the planet for millions of years, apparently they have inhabited the lake since 370 million years ago. And just like their close cousins, the axolotls, they have amazing regenerative abilities.
Along with axolotls, they are the only animals capable of regenerating not only parts of their skin, but they also have the amazing ability to regenerate complex parts of their bodies such as muscles, organs, and limbs in a relatively quick span of time. For this and many other reasons it is vitally important to take care of them as they are in danger of extinction.
CONABIO
The small species belongs to the group of amphibians although it maintains its larval state even in adulthood. A feature known as neotenic, which means that they can reach sexual maturity in their larval stage and present internal fertilization. In other words, like their close cousins, chokes are forever young and unlike all amphibians, they rarely go through a state of metamorphosis. However, there are exceptions because if the animal is subjected to too much stress it tends to reach its salamander form.
How is the Mexican shock?
It is a species very similar to its cousin the axolotl. It is light or dark brown in color and also has showy crown-shaped gills that encircle its head. They measure approximately 25 centimeters from the top of their head to the end of their tail and usually have a broad, flattened head.
They are very similar to axolotls, except for the coloration and because they only inhabit Lake Pátzcuaro in Michoacán. Some even have darker brown spots and are extremely beautiful. Unfortunately, they are in danger of extinction and, like axolotls, they require conservation efforts to save them from extinction.
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