Axolotl
Tiny ambystoma mexicanum, any good
Armor Class 14
Hit Points 44 5d10+6
Speed
40ft
Swim: 45ft
Saving Throws Dex +4, Con -2
Skills SKILLS:
(Hey Ms. Feldy! Hopefully this works but if you click this: Axolotl it'll bring you to the page I made for my endangered species project. All of the predators and prey also have their own stats and links as well.)
Adaptations: |
How it relates to their survival: |
Neoteny |
Keeping their tail improves movement. In addition, staying in the pupa stage is useful because they don’t have to eat as much food, because they would be smaller in their pupa stage than their adult stage. They are the top predator in the lake so why leave. |
Regeneration |
The axolotl can regenerate their limbs with stem cells. This lets them continue living even after having a near-death experience. They can grow back any tissue including parts of their own brain. These salamanders absolutely refuse to die. |
Pigmentation |
Axolotls are a brown/tan-ish color with small golden spots/speckles in the wild. This skin tone, in addition to an olive undertone to their skin, is perfect for hiding in the murky depths of lakes. |
Cone-shaped teeth |
The Axolotl has cone-shaped teeth that are meant more for gripping than biting. The teeth are angled inwards, making it so the small insects, worms, small fish, etc. can't swim/crawl back out of its mouth after it's grabbed its prey. the Axolotl swallows its prey whole so the cone-shaped teeth are perfect for this salamander. |
Big Mouth |
When the axolotl wants to eat food it will open its mouth. This action causes a vacuum that makes everything in front of them to rush towards its mouth. their mouth and the vacuum caused by their mouth. This helps them capture their prey and makes axolotls very cute and look like they're smiling. |
Damage Vulnerabilities Poison, Acid, Cold
Damage Resistances Necrotic, Fire
Condition Immunities Incapacitated, Poisoned
Senses Smell: Basic. perception +3 to smell. (Hunt by smell)
Sight: Mediocre. Perception -2 to see. rely on movement for sight.
Languages Axolotl
Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)
At will: CAST AT WILL:
Reproduction- The male Axolotl will wiggle his tail in rapid thrashing motions, releasing chemical cues from his cloaca into the water. The female will use her snout to nudge at the male's cloaca as he releases spermatophores into the water. When the female picks up the spermatophores with her cloaca fertilization will begin.
Type of Reproduction- Internal fertilization
Amount of Eggs- 400 to 1000 eggs. Females will release them individually and will use a rock or a plant for an anchor point for the eggs.
Pheromones- A paper released in 2016, titled "Proteinaceous Pheromone Homologs Identified from the Cloacal Gland Transcriptome of a Male Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum" had identified two pheromones released by the male axolotl during courting. sodefrin precursor-like factor (SPF) and plethodontid modulating factor (PMF).
Relationships:
Relationship: |
Protozoan in question: |
How it affects Axolotl |
Parasitic (+/-) |
Hexamita |
These protozoans live inside the intestines of axolotls and will absorb the nutrients in their intestines. The axolotl will lose its appetite and act lethargic. It will also act "confused" by swimming in erratic and abnormal patterns. This parasite will eventually go through the axolotls entire body and make its way up to the brain in severe cases causing death. |
Parasitic (+/-) |
Ichthyobodo |
It doesn't kill the axolotl but it makes it very sick. It attaches itself to the skin and gills of the axolotl and absorbs nutrients from the axolotl. It will make the axolotl lethargic and slow and it won't eat as much. It will also cause it to excrete a whole bunch of excess mucus. |
Parasitic (+/-) |
Trichodina |
This parasite doesn't actively harm the axolotl it just chills inside its gills and on its skin. The axolotl will try to rub off the parasite on various surfaces. This parasite can also lower the axolotls' immune system, making it easier for other parasites and diseases to affect the axolotl. |
Duck and Cover. The Axolotl can use the Dash, Dodge, and Hide actions in a single turn.
Actions
Vacuumous Maw. Melee Weapon Attack. 1d20+4 to hit. reach 10 ft., 3 targets. Hit: 1d6+2 force damage. If the target is a creature, it must succeed on a DC 15 dexterity save or be grappled.
Nope nope nopenopenope. Melee Weapon Attack. 1d20+4 to hit. reach 5ft. affects all creatures within a 10ft cube . Hit: 1d4+1 force damage. In an attempt to flee, the axolotl will kick up dust and sand and the creatures affected must make a DC 14 Dex saving throw or be blinded for the round.
Legendary Actions
Regenerate You can use this action as a reaction twice per round.
Regional Effects
Regional Effects
How did it become endangered?
- Shrinking wetlands from humans expanding population/settlements.
- Invasive species (carp & tilapia) that eat axolotl eggs and forced axolotls another peg down the food chain which they aren’t used to.
- Pollution- sewage and hard metals are hard on the axolotls.
- Because they are being studied for regeneration
- Their oocytes are currently being used to cure breast cancer and could possibly help cure more cancers.
- They are friends and we must protect them
- How can RFHS help/prevent the problem
- Fundraise money for water filtration plants for these lakes
- Raise awareness
- What other things can be done to help?
- Breeding farms to keep the population of wild Axolotls alive
- Try to remove the Asian Carp population from the lake
- Conservation projects that are near the location of wild axolotls
- What are organizations doing to help the Axolotl?
- Not many organizations are doing much besides half-hearted attempts to help.
- Breeding farms
- Scientific studies on the wild Axolotl
- Some fishermen are trying to catch as much of the invasive fish as possible.
Axolotl Taxology:
Kingdom |
Animalia |
Phylum |
Chordata |
Class |
Amphibia |
Order |
Urodela |
Family |
Ambystomatidae |
Genus |
Ambystoma |
Species |
Mexicanum |
SUGGESTED ENVIRONMENTS:
The
Axolotl lives in the Xochimilco Lakes/Canals in Mexico.
Axolotl distribution map
HABITAT:
Abiotic Factors: |
Biotic Factors: |
- Rocks
- Darkness
- Sand
- Water
|
- Fish
- Crustaceans
- Worms
- Coral
- Seaweed
- Insects
- Mollusks
- Birds
|
Axolotl Food Chain:
by Sophia Okal