|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
axolotl
axolotl , a salamander , Siredon mexicanum, found in certain lakes in the region of Mexico City, which reaches reproductive maturity without losing its larval characteristics. This phenomenon is called neoteny; in salamanders it is apparently caused by certain environmental conditions, particularly a low level of iodine in the water, which affect the functioning of the thyroid gland. Axolotls are permanently aquatic, never undergoing the metamorphosis to a terrestrial form characteristic of amphibians. They grow larger than ordinary larval salamanders and develop sexually, but they retain external gills and a well-developed tail. The axolotl was not recognized as a salamander until 1865, when several specimens at the Jardin des Plantes in Paris suddenly underwent metamorphosis. After some experimentation it was discovered that when their pools were dried up most of the animals changed into the adult form. Axolotls will also mature normally if fed thyroid gland extract. The related North American tiger salamander, Abystoma tigrinum, often exhibits neoteny in the Rocky Mts., where the iodine content of the water is low. The axolotl has a broad head and bushy gills; its skin is a black-speckled dark brown. It may grow as long as 13 in. (33 cm). In Mexico City, axolotls are sometimes cooked and eaten as delicacies. They are classified in the phylum Chordata , subphylum Vertebrata, class Amphibia, order Urodela, family Abystomidae. |
|
|
Cite this article
"axolotl." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "axolotl." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-axolotl.html "axolotl." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-axolotl.html |
|
axolotl
axolotl Larval form of certain species of salamander native to w USA and Mexico. Axolotls are aquatic amphibians that normally mature and reproduce without developing into adult salamanders. Length: c.25cm (10in). Family Ambystomidae.
|
|
|
Cite this article
"axolotl." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "axolotl." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-axolotl.html "axolotl." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-axolotl.html |
|
axolotl
axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) See AMBYSTOMATIDAE.
|
|
|
Cite this article
MICHAEL ALLABY. "axolotl." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. MICHAEL ALLABY. "axolotl." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-axolotl.html MICHAEL ALLABY. "axolotl." A Dictionary of Zoology. 1999. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O8-axolotl.html |
|
axolotl
axolotl
•battle, cattle, chattel, embattle, prattle, rattle, Seattle, tattle
•fractal
•cantle, covenantal, mantel, mantle, Prandtl
•pastel • Fremantle • tittle-tattle
•startle, stratal
•Nahuatl
•fettle, kettle, metal, mettle, nettle, petal, Popocatépetl, settle
•dialectal, rectal
•dental, gentle, mental, Oriental, parental, rental
•transeptal
•festal, vestal
•gunmetal
•antenatal, fatal, hiatal, natal, neonatal, ratel
•beetle, betel, chital, decretal, fetal
•blackbeetle
•acquittal, belittle, brittle, committal, embrittle, it'll, kittle, little, remittal, skittle, spittle, tittle, victual, whittle
•edictal, rictal
•lintel, pintle, quintal
•Bristol, Chrystal, crystal, pistol
•varietal • coital • phenobarbital
•orbital • pedestal • sagittal • vegetal
•digital • skeletal • Doolittle
•congenital, genital, primogenital, urogenital
•capital • lickspittle • hospital • marital
•entitle, mistitle, recital, requital, title, vital
•subtitle • surtitle
•axolotl, bottle, dottle, glottal, mottle, pottle, throttle, wattle
•fontal, horizontal
•hostel, intercostal, Pentecostal
•greenbottle • bluebottle • Aristotle
•chortle, immortal, mortal, portal
•Borstal
•anecdotal, sacerdotal, teetotal, total
•coastal, postal
•subtotal
•brutal, footle, pootle, refutal, rootle, tootle
•buttle, cuttle, rebuttal, scuttle, shuttle, subtle, surrebuttal
•buntal, contrapuntal, frontal
•crustal • societal • pivotal
•hurtle, kirtle, myrtle, turtle
|
|
|
Cite this article
"axolotl." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "axolotl." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-axolotl.html "axolotl." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-axolotl.html |
|
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
