Why axolotls are everywhere – but a rarity in the one lake they call home

so much new information in such a short article. wow.

i enjoyed connecting some of the cultural references like "how to train a dragon" and pokemon.

the evolutionary glitch of not evolving into an adult stage and leaving the lake truly has had some compounding effects.

The axolotl, a critically endangered salamander found only in Lake Xochimilco, Mexico, has become an internet sensation. Its popularity, fueled by appearances in video games and online, contrasts sharply with its dwindling numbers in the wild. The article explores the scientific mystery of the axolotl's neoteny (failure to fully mature), the threats to its habitat (pollution, invasive species, and human encroachment), and conservation efforts underway to protect this unique amphibian.