{"topic_id":"exotic_pet_profile_axolotl","category":"exotic-pet-profile","context":"---\ntopic_id: exotic_pet_profile_axolotl\ncategory: exotic-pet-profile\ntitle: \"Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) — species profile (taxonomy, origin, lifespan, husbandry basics)\"\nlang: en\nsource: \"Animal Diversity Web (animaldiversity.org, University of Michigan) — species account Ambystoma mexicanum\"\nsource_file: pdf-raw/exotic-profile-2026/axolotl.txt\ndate_parsed: 2026-07-28\ntokens_estimated: 0\nverified: true\nverification: c1_substring\nsource_document: \"Animal Diversity Web species account (Ambystoma mexicanum)\"\ncitation:\n  authority: \"Animal Diversity Web (animaldiversity.org, University of Michigan)\"\n  title: \"Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) — species profile (taxonomy, origin, lifespan, husbandry basics)\"\n  url: \"https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ambystoma_mexicanum/\"\n  retrieved: \"2026-07-28\"\n  ref: \"ADW species account Ambystoma mexicanum\"\n  doc_type: \"expert species account (.edu, compiled from primary literature)\"\n  needs_review: false\n---\n\n# Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) — species profile (taxonomy, origin, lifespan, husbandry basics)\nAuthoritative first-hand species account (Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan). All bullet facts are verbatim from the cited source and C1-substring verified.\n## Natural History & Origin\n- is historically found in Lakes Chalco and Xochimilco of the Valley of Mexico near\n- native, only Xochimilco (elevation: ~ 2,274 m) remains.\n- been introduced into the lakes where axolotls are found, contributing to the demise\n## Habitat\n- are large, relatively permanent (until recently), high-altitude lakes located near\n- Of the two lakes - Chalco and Xochimilco - where these animals are historically\n- aquatic salamanders, meaning they retain certain larval characteristics in the adult,\n## Size\n- They possess feathery external gills and finned tails for swimming.\n- Axolotls reach lengths on average of 20 cm (9 inches),\n- but can grow to more than 30 cm (12 inches) in length.\n## Lifespan\n- Expected laboratory longevity is 5 to 6 years; however, some animals have been known\n- to live as long as 10 to 15 years.\n- Historically, they have been known to live in high altitude lakes\n## Behavior & Social Structure\n- Axolotls are solitary and may be active at any time of the day.\n## Reproduction\n- is paedomorphic, which means that it retains larval characteristics in the reproductively\n- Metamorphosis can be induced in axolotls\n- In the wild, axolotls rarely, if ever, metamorphose.\n## Diet\n- animal constituent of plankton; mainly small crustaceans and fish larvae.\n- animals which must use heat acquired from the environment and behavioral adaptations\n","sources":["exotic-pet-profile — Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) — species profile (taxonomy, origin, lifespan, husbandry basics) (retrieved 2026-07-28)"],"source":{"authority":"exotic-pet-profile","title":"Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) — species profile (taxonomy, origin, lifespan, husbandry basics)","url":"https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Ambystoma_mexicanum/","retrieved":"2026-07-28","ref":"","doc_type":"official PDF","source_document":"Animal Diversity Web species account (Ambystoma mexicanum)","verification_file":"pdf-raw/exotic-profile-2026/axolotl.txt"},"source_document":"Animal Diversity Web species account (Ambystoma mexicanum)","source_file":"pdf-raw/exotic-profile-2026/axolotl.txt","tokens_estimated":470,"generated_at":null,"tip":"Use /api/v1/topics to discover more topics. /api/v1/nutrient for precise single-point queries. /api/v1/cross_compare for 2-3 standard comparisons."}