Wild and Kind Kids Podcast

The Axolotl

• Wild and Kind Kids • Season 1 • Episode 24

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0:00 | 21:37

Deep beneath the canals of Xochimilco in Mexico lives one of the strangest (and cutest) creatures on Earth: the axolotl.

Meet Ralph, an axolotl who is VERY tired of looking like a baby.

While the other animals zoom around the canals having fun, Ralph is determined to become a serious grown-up. He grows a moss mustache. Carries an important-looking briefcase. Attends “business meetings.” And even tries disgusting grown-up food.

There’s just one problem: being a grown-up is exhausting.

Join Carie, Lincoln, and Eliza as they dive into the weird and wonderful world of the axolotl: the smiling salamander who never grows up. 

Kids will discover:

  • How axolotls can regrow legs, tails, and even parts of their hearts
  • Why scientists study axolotls to learn about healing and regeneration
  • How axolotls slurp up food like underwater vacuum cleaners
  • Why wild axolotls are critically endangered in Mexico

Keep exploring:

Learn along with us and explore some of the resources we consulted:

SPEAKER_03

Hi everyone. Welcome back to Wild and Kind Kids. So today we're gonna get started by actually turning into today's creature. Are you all ready? Yeah, mom, you know it. All right, I want you to take your hands and lift them up beside your face. Nice. Now spread your fingers out really wide and wiggle them. Nice. Yep, wiggle, wiggle. Now, give me the biggest smile you can possibly make. Can you go a little bigger? Bigger? Yes! Perfect. You officially look adorable.

SPEAKER_01

I look adorable always.

SPEAKER_03

That is true. And that is also what people say about today's creature. People love turning it into stuffed animals, cartoons, or even Minecraft characters. But today's animal is more than just cute. It has one of the most amazing superpowers in the entire animal kingdom. Let's get learning. I'm Carrie, and I grew up on a zoo.

SPEAKER_01

I'm Lincoln. I'm Eiza. And we're wild about animals.

SPEAKER_03

Welcome to the Wild and Kind Kids Podcast. Hi, Lincoln and Eliza.

unknown

Hi, Mom.

SPEAKER_03

Y'all, we have got a good one today. This animal is so popular, we actually got requests from two different kids. A listener named Henry from Michigan and another listener named Beatrice requested one of your favorite animals.

SPEAKER_01

Hi Henry. Hi Beatrice. They requested the Axl Autol. It's the cutest animal on earth.

SPEAKER_03

Yes, the Axl Autol may be one of the most famous amphibians in the world right now. They're a type of salamander that spends its entire life underwater. And even though you can find Axl Autol toys or Minecraft characters almost everywhere these days, real axl autils live in just one place on earth. The ancient lakes and canals of Sochi Milko outside Mexico City. Axl Audils grow to be about as long as a ruler with smooth bodies, stubby little legs, and feathery gills that stick out from the sides of their heads like fluffy feathers. And then there's the face. Axlottles have these wide little mouths that make them look like they are smiling almost all the time. Kind of like we looked at the beginning. Personally, I think they look like a dragon. Lincoln and Eliza?

SPEAKER_01

I think they look like coral that has a face and a tadpole of arms and legs who is made out of coral. With chicken pox too. I think it's an underwater bearded dragon.

SPEAKER_02

Yeah, they do kind of look like a bearded dragon or they look like they have chicken pox because of that black stuff. Elbender. This is the first time I've heard chicken pox. I love it.

SPEAKER_03

In the wild, axilodils are dark brown or blackish in color. But if you've seen one in captivity, which means if you've seen one in a pet store or in someone's house, they might have been white or pink. These axlodils have a special genetic condition that's not actually the norm in the wild. All right, Lincoln and Eliza, what else can you tell us about the Axlotl?

SPEAKER_01

Axolotls are legendary.

SPEAKER_03

Indeed. Axlotils are connected to an Aztec story about a god named Sholotol. According to the legend, Sholotl transformed into a water creature to hide from danger. And that creature became the axolotl. Okay, what else, y'all?

SPEAKER_01

Axlodils can regrow their body parts, even the legs. That's a wild fun fact.

SPEAKER_03

Yes, this is that superpower I was talking about. If an axl auto loses a leg, its tail, or even parts of an important body structure like its heart or spinal cord, its body can regrow them. Let's think about that for a second. Your leg gets stuck, it gets pulled off, and then you just grow a new one? It's amazing. It's called regeneration, which you may remember from our tiger salamander episode. When a limb is lost, the first thing that happens is something called a blastema forming. A blastema is like a tiny bundle of special cells. These cells are like a tiny construction crew that helps build the missing body part, remembering exactly what was lost. So, you know, you don't end up with a tail where your leg should be. What's really wild is that when a limb grows back, there may be no sign it was ever missing at all. There might not be even the slightest scar. Now, scientists actually study axl autils because they want to understand how regeneration works and whether someday it might help us, humans, heal our injuries better too. And here's something else pretty cool. Inside every axl autol is a giant set of instructions that tells its body how to grow and work. Scientists call those instructions a genome. We have our own genome too. But get this, y'all. An axolotl's genome is about 10 times bigger than a human's. That's what makes it so hard to figure out exactly which instructions are helping axolotils regrow their body parts. Pretty cool. What else can you tell me, y'all? They vacuum up their food. They do. Now, if you look at an axolotl, it sort of looks like they don't have teeth, but they actually have tiny little ridges of teeth. And they're meat eaters, but those tiny little teeth are not big enough or sharp enough for chewing. So what's an axolotl to do? They kind of hunt underwater like vacuum cleaners. They quickly open their mouths and suck in prey like worms, insects, snails, or tiny fish. And just like your vacuum might accidentally grab a Lego sometimes, they sometimes slurp up tiny rocks, which later help them digest their food. Give me one last fact, y'all.

SPEAKER_01

They have a fabulous feathery head. It's cute.

SPEAKER_03

They do. Those fluffy branches stretching out of an axl autil's head are actually gills. Axl autils use them to breathe underwater. Tiny blood vessels inside the gills pull oxygen out of the water as it flows by, which means those pink, feathery tufts aren't just cute. They are a vital life support system. Now, axlodils do actually have lungs, but they rely on these gills to breathe because they never leave the water. Amazing. Alright, y'all. I think it's time for our story of the day. Hey. In the murky canals of Sochi Milko lived a young Hey, who are you calling young? Right. In the murky canals of Sochi Milko lived Ralph. And Ralph was, well, look, he wasn't old, but he wasn't exactly not old. He was an axilotl. And this, my friends, is exactly why Ralph was angry today. You see, axilotl are unusual creatures. While many salamanders grow up and leave the water, axilotils wait, define grow up remain in their young looking form their entire lives. Which is important because axilotils are not babies. They grow up, they become adults, they make important decisions. But unlike many salamanders, axilotls keep features that make them look young forever. Feathery gills, an underwater life, smiley little faces. Scientists call this neotony. We prefer forever young. Right. Now most axilodils were perfectly happy about this arrangement. Ridiculous. Okay, Ralph, can I just can I tell the story? As I said, most axlodils were perfectly happy about this arrangement, but not Ralph. Ralph was tired of everyone treating him like he was little just because he still had his feathery gills and a babyface smile. He wanted to look wise, important, sophisticated. He wanted other animals to gasp when he waddled by and whisper. Whoa, that guy definitely pays taxes. Ralph did not actually know what taxes were, but whatever. And so, on this morning, Ralph decided to take matters into his own hands. If Axl Audles had to look young forever, then Ralph would become the most serious grown-up Axel Audl these canals had ever seen. He started by gluing strands of lake moss across the top of his lip to make himself a mustache. Perfect. Then Ralph practiced his serious adult voice. Good day, sir. At breakfast, Ralph crossed his arms importantly.

SPEAKER_01

I shall no longer eat child food.

SPEAKER_03

You mean worms? asked his mother. Yes. I now eat grown-up food. His father nodded thoughtfully.

SPEAKER_00

Makes sense.

SPEAKER_03

Then he handed Ralph a steaming blob of fermented algae paste. Ralph stared at it. It stared back. One bubble popped sadly on the surface.

SPEAKER_01

Adults eat this every bite.

SPEAKER_03

Ralph took one bite. He scrunched up his face. It tastes like a swamp shoe. Ralph chewed quickly and attempted to wash it all down without tasting. But he did not quit. Because grown ups never quit. Probably. Soon Ralph began carrying an important looking briefcase made from an empty clamshell. Inside was one pebble, one piece of moss, and absolutely nothing useful. These are business documents, he said to no one in particular as he passed over a pile of rocks. One day, his cousin Luz approached.

SPEAKER_01

Where are you going, bud? Meetings. What meetings? Business meetings. What business? Extremely important canal matters.

SPEAKER_03

Sometimes Ralph would stare thoughtfully into the distance and mutter The economy. Like taxes, Ralph did not know what the economy meant, but it sounded grown up. One afternoon, Ralph announced he was ready for adult responsibilities. His parents exchanged a look and then they smiled. Well, said his mother, if you're truly grown up, perhaps you can help organize the snail shells. Ralph puffed out his chest.

SPEAKER_01

At last.

SPEAKER_03

Three hours later, Ralph was still sorting snail shells. Tiny shells, big shells, striped shells, slimy shells. Every time he finished, the water shifted and ruined the piles. Meanwhile, his friends zoomed through the reeds, playing bubble tag.

SPEAKER_01

Come play!

SPEAKER_03

Luz shouted. I cannot. Ralph called importantly. I am working.

SPEAKER_01

On what? Shell management.

SPEAKER_03

Luz blinked.

SPEAKER_01

That's not terrible. It is terrible.

SPEAKER_03

Ralph whispered to himself. But adulthood required sacrifice. Apparently. Soon things got worse. Ralph had to babysit wiggly tadpoles. He had to deliver messages to grumpy turtles. He had to sit through long adult conversations about mud. So much mud. And then Gerald said that the sediment distribution near the North Reeds was highly irregular. Fascinating. No, no, the really interesting part was the algae density charts. Ralph's eyes glazed over. His moss mustache slowly peeled off his face and floated into the water. Nobody even noticed for eleven minutes. By the end of the week, Ralph was exhausted. His gills drooped. His shell briefcase hurt his back. An algae paste was disgusting. And every grown up around him seemed very tired all the time. Then one evening, Ralph spotted his friends racing through the canals, laughing, spinning, doing underwater flips. Luz waved excitedly.

SPEAKER_01

Ralph, come on, it's just some playing time.

SPEAKER_03

Ralph adjusted his briefcase importantly. I cannot. Just then his father swam by carrying seventeen baskets of snail shells.

SPEAKER_00

Perfect timing. Since you're grown up now, would you mind alphabetizing these?

SPEAKER_03

Ralph froze. He stared at the baskets, then at his friends, then back at the baskets, and then at his friends. One tiny bubble escaped his mouth, then another, and then suddenly I don't care if I look young. The whole canal went quiet. Ralph burst into tears.

SPEAKER_01

I miss games and snacks. And not knowing what sediment distribution is.

SPEAKER_03

His mother pulled him close. Oh sweetheart, she said gently, you are growing up.

SPEAKER_00

I am. Of course. Axolotls just do it differently.

SPEAKER_03

You don't have to be anyone but yourself to be wise or important. And honestly, most adults are still figuring things out too. Ralph sniffled.

SPEAKER_00

They are? Oh absolutely. Half the turtles in this canal still don't understand taxes.

SPEAKER_03

Ralph laughed a little. Then he looked down at his feathery gills floating softly in the water. For the first time, they didn't seem childish. They looked like him. And then Ralph did what all mature, fully grown axl autols do sometimes. He launched himself off a rock, screaming.

SPEAKER_01

Last one to the reeds is a rotten snail.

SPEAKER_03

His briefcase flew into the mud. The algae paste was abandoned forever. And Ralph spent the next three hours racing through the canals with his friends while his feathery gills fluttered happily beside him. Okay, friends. Like always, this story has a real science connection. To be fair, there's also quite a bit of story magic in this one. Axolotls do not carry briefcases, for example, at least not to my knowledge. But they do look like they are trapped in their youth. You see, most salamanders go through a process called metamorphosis. They start life underwater with gills, but as they grow up, those gills disappear, they grow lungs, and they move on to land. In the past, you've heard us call animals like this part of nature's grow-up gang. But axolotls, they never fully make that change. They stay underwater their whole lives. They keep their frilly external gills and continue looking a lot like younger salamanders, even when they're adults. Now, to be clear, axolotls do grow up. They hunt, they reproduce, they become fully grown adults. They just stay in their underwater form instead of transforming into land salamanders. Scientists call this neotony, or you might call it pita pan power. Yes. Now other salamanders will also do this. They may stay in water if the conditions are good, but axl autils are one of the most famous salamanders to stay fully aquatic for their entire life. Ralph calls it a tragedy. But I think it's pretty cute. Before we go, it's time for your Wild Cognition. This week, we're asking you to help save the smiles. Even though it might feel like axolotls are everywhere these days, they are actually critically endangered in the wild. That means there aren't many left, and scientists are working hard to keep them from disappearing forever. So let's put their plight in perspective. More than 20 years ago, scientists looked at a specific area inside Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City. They found 6,000 axlodils. The last time they were counted, there were only 36 axl autols in that same sized area. But there is hope. In Mexico City, the National Autonomous University of Mexico has helped launch efforts to protect axlodils and restore cleaner, safer habitats for them. And with a grown-up, you can even virtually adopt an axolotl to help support their conservation work. Now, an important note: you will not get a live axolotl in the mail.

SPEAKER_01

Ah, biscuits.

SPEAKER_03

Sorry. We'll post the link in our episode description, or you can just search for Adopt an Axolotl and the National Autonomous University online. It's a small step to help axolotls come back in the wild. But for now, thanks for listening, everyone. We'll see you next week. This podcast is produced by John, also known as Lincoln and Eliza's dad. If you're enjoying these adventures, please subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave us a review and tell your friends. Check out the show notes to find a coloring sheet for today's creature. And explore more episodes at wild and kindkids.com. To show us your coloring sheet or request an animal for a future story, contact us at wild and kindkidspod at gmail.com. You can also find us on Instagram at Wild and Kind Kids Pod. Thanks for exploring with us, friends. Until next time.