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Bitis β Axolotl
Published: 2006-09-10 22:27:55 +0000 UTC; Views: 16735; Favourites: 316; Downloads: 7031
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Description
This is a leucistic axolotl with no legs. The axolotl is a neonatal salamander, an amphibian that lives in the water its entire life, breathing through gills. It can be induced to metamorphose using hormones. Axolotls are commonly used in research as they are able to regenerate severed limbs, among other things. At this point they are endangered in the wild due to habitat loss but are extremely common in captivity, particularly in research institutions. This one appears to have been born without any legs, which actually seems to give her an advantage in the water.Related content
Comments: 45
it's such a beautiful, fragile and innocent creature. I love them.
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all Axolotls are born without legs. Β Those were definitely amputated. Β
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I wonder...some neotonous salamander species do have an adult form that they can turn into if they are put under stress or if they are exposed to high levels of iodine. I wonder if the legs on this individual would fully develop if it underwent metamorphosis into its adult form?
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Wow, looks very stressed (by its tail) ..
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AXOLOTL
is that in the water? because that's a great reflection
i'm getting two of these in a couple of weeks, can't wait
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AHHHH SO CUTE, JSUT LIKE MY ICON, HE IS SO FAT AND CUTE!
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SQUEE! I love your icon!
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Aww, she died.. TT.TT Thats horrible. But still, awesome picture (albinos FTW)
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when introduced to iodine in the water, axolotls lose their limbs and gain gills. ...i heard. x
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They already have gills (that's what those red fluffy things on her neck are) ... If they lost their limbs, they'd grow back (they're the only vertebrates that can do this, BTW).
Soooo, I don't think iodine makes 'em do that, but it *might* make them turn into Tiger Salamanders due to stress (ie, lose their gills, change shape, and gain lungs) ... Normally they don't metamorphosize into salamanders, but are what are called neotonous, which means that they can reproduce in their larval form.
O.o (Probably way more than you wanted to know, heh ...)
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Sorry, I'm stalking your comment
But I thought the head things were brain tissue?
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Heh, nooooo, definitely not brain tissue! They're gills. Just like on a fish, only fish gills usually aren't as *fabulous* as axolotl gills.
That does make for a pretty cool alien creature idea for a sci-fi, though ...
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OH OH, I meant lung tissue. Damn. Now I look silly.
Yeah, I think they're pretty cool 
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ooh i havnt done my research. the gills are the frills? thats odd. quite amazing actually. x
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We have the leucistic and normal variations where I work. I absolutely adore these guys. Although I get sick of everyone calling it a "fish"...even though ours have legs.
Great picture. C:
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Thanks to all who favorited and/or commented on this picture
Sadly, I wanted to comment that this girl passed away just a couple of days ago, probably due to bacterial infection and possibly compounded by pregnancy 
That's the problem with animals, though ... sometimes they die
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aw, she was a cute one. Im sorry
R.I.P
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this creature is absolutely out of this world
so awesome
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aww she's so cute ^^ i mainly go aww at the fact the young ones can forget how to eat X3 if lemurs wen't around these guys would be my favourite animal :3 plus this is ym favourite colour in axolotl's the darker ones don't seem to look sas cute to me :\
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oh yes
I saw my first axolotl in a book about albino animals... I was in love since that moment
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this is a great image...and may i add that axolotls are among my favorite favorite beasties XD excellent work!
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Cute little thing... I love these Creatures a lot!
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Awww... I have a black axolotl ^^ (named Kuro Ryu (Black Dragon))
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i hate samalanders but i love axolotls. this ones all aero dynamic, good for her! sort of.. well at least it has an advantage x
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Aww, she is so cute! I love the reflection and how you can see the veins in her tail. Seeing this reminds me of bio lab from last year.
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Thanks for the comments! 
Ereshkigal, I'd love to have you feature this in your journal but please do put a link back to my Deviantart page (bitis.deviantart.com). Thanks!
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Woah this is really aweosme, the reflection gives this picture a great look
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Such an amazing photo. I love the description as well. Great work, I hope you dont mind, but id love to feature this in my journal.
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i think i have seen these in a pet shop before ... but they all had legs ... this is freaky !
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wow ... it's like a small legless dragon dinosaur ...
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