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By Laura O’Brien
Axolotls are taking over Sea Life Orlando. The aquarium provided a pronunciation of the species’ name, “ACK-suh-LAH-tuhl”. The odd-looking ancient creatures are quite unique among the animal kingdom, and they possess amazing abilities. Their exhibit at Sea Life is entitled The Last Dragons: Discover the Superpowers of the Axolotls. The interactive experience is teaching visitors all about the astonishing species.
Axolotls (also known as the Mexican salamander) are amphibians, but unlike other amphibians, axolotls do not need to go through metamorphosis in order to reach adulthood. Although they do not always go through metamorphosis, if their water source dries up and they are forced to live on land, they will adapt via metamorphosis. They have long fronds that radiate from their heads, which are actually gills. Experts believe that axolotls have existed for 140 million years, and the rare amphibians even have the power to regenerate severed limbs, and they even defy the aging process. According to Sea Life, powers like those are the reasons that axolotls are one of the most studied animals in the world. We have quite a bit to learn from them!
Learn more from our sources, http://www.sun-sentinel.com/travel/attractions/os-bz-sea-life-aquarium-20171103-story.html and https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/amphibians/a/axolotl/