neoteny

These adorable aquatic salamanders are voracious hunters -- and have myth-like powers of regeneration. Learn more about the axolotl in this episode of BrainStuff, based on this article: https://animals.howstuffworks.com/endangered-species/axolotl.htm

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Axolotl. You’ve probably seen a picture of this cute, meme-worthy animal, but what do you really know about this captivating animal? Do you know the one place on earth where they're natively found? Do you know how few are left in the wild and what hinders conservation efforts?  Why some consider them the fruit flies of amphibians? Or, perhaps the most important question, why are they so darn cute?

The axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, is  a close relative to the tiger salamander. Native to one small region of Mexico, Axolotls are weird even among amphibians due to the fact that instead of living on the land in their adult form, they  remain aquatic and retain their juvenile characteristics, such as their gills, throughout their life. This natural phenomenon is called neoteny. What was once an evolutionary advantage before human interference, axolotl neoteny  allows them to regenerate not only limbs, but their organs and even parts of their brain; an ability that is not possible for most vertebrates. It also makes them rather photogenic and a popular pet.

Axolotl are an important animal in both the wild and in scientist’s laboratories for medical research.  Though they are common in captivity, it is imperative we save wild axolotl from extinction. Listen now to learn more about this fascinating creature. 

In the News:
#WrongAsian If you're going to post a photo of someone, make sure it is the right person. 
And, sadly, there are only approximately 10 vaquita porpoises left in the wild. 

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Emily K. Michael is a blind poet, musician, and writing instructor from Jacksonville, FL. Since 2016, she has worked as the associate poetry editor for Wordgathering: A Journal of Disability Poetry and Literature. Her poetry and essays have appeared in Wordgathering, The Hopper, Artemis Journal, The South Carolina Review, The Deaf Poets Society, Nine Mile Magazine, Bridge Eight, Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics, BREVITY’s Nonfiction Blog, Barriers and Belonging, and AWP Writer’s Notebook. Her first chapbook manuscript Natural Compliance won Honorable Mention in The Hopper’s 2016 Prize for Young Poets. Her first chapbook, Neoteny is available for pre-order from Finishing Line Press.

Emily’s work centers on ecology, disability, and music. She develops grammar workshops for multilingual learners and delivers poetry workshops for writers at all levels. She regularly reads at Jax By Jax, a yearly literary festival celebrating Jacksonville writers. Emily is passionate about grammar, singing, birding, and guide dogs. Find more of her work at http://emilykmichael.com.