If you’ve ever seen an axolotl, you know that they’re one of the most unusual creatures on earth. They can regenerate limbs, breathe through their skin and even hold their breath underwater for months at a time! It’s no surprise then that these amphibians have some pretty interesting adaptations including external gills on their necks.
But just what makes axolotls so special? And why do they have external gills in the first place? Let’s dive into this question as we explore some little known facts about these fascinating creatures…
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Axolotls have external gills as part of their respiratory system. |
| The presence of external gills allows axolotls to efficiently extract oxygen from water. |
| External gills provide axolotls with a constant supply of oxygen, even when the water is low in oxygen levels. |
| Axolotls retain their external gills throughout their entire lifespan, unlike other amphibians that undergo metamorphosis. |
| The evolution of external gills in axolotls is an adaptation to their fully aquatic lifestyle. |
So They Can Breathe Underwater
Axolotls can breathe underwater, just like fish.
They have gills that look like the gills of a fish, but these are external—they’re located on their backs, right behind the head. The water flowing over these delicate membranes helps them keep their respiratory system moist and functioning properly.
Because axolotls need to be able to breathe under water at all times, they evolved this unique way of taking in oxygen through their skin instead of lungs or gills.
When it comes to the respiratory system of axolotls, they have a fascinating ability to breathe air. Learn more about this unique characteristic in our comprehensive guide on can axolotls breathe air and discover the wonders of their respiratory adaptation.
So They Can Swim From Side to Side
Axolotls have external gills because they’re such great swimmers. Axolotls have a wide body with more surface area, which makes it easier for them to swim from side to side.
They can also swim forward, backward, up and down even in multiple directions at once!
If you look closely, you’ll notice that their bodies are covered with small scales called “dots.” These help them get closer to the water’s surface when they need oxygen or when they want food (and also make them look really cute).
Besides being good swimmers, axolotls are also pretty lazy animals: they tend not to move around very much unless there is something interesting going on in their environment (like finding food).
To Cut Down On Water Resistance
When you look at an axolotl, it seems like it should be able to breathe the way we do. But axolotls don’t have lungs, and they can’t breathe through their mouths. So how do they get oxygen? Their gills!
Axolotls are amphibians that live in water, but they still need oxygen to survive. Unlike fish and other aquatic animals who absorb oxygen directly from the water through their gills, axolots absorb oxygen through their skin and internal organs (like a lung).
Even though air isn’t as good of a conductor as water is when it comes to transferring oxygen molecules out of one place into another location where you can use them for breathing purposes (just think about how much harder it is getting your hands wet in winter compared with summer), if an animal doesn’t spend most of its time underwater, then using gills instead might actually make sense.
This is because being able to breath better on land than underwater would mean less energy expended trying not only find food but also keep yourself above water at all times too!
| Techniques | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Streamlining | Decreases drag and improves efficiency |
| Hydrodynamic design | Minimizes turbulence and resistance |
| Smoother surface | Reduces friction for faster movement |
| Fins and propellers | Enhances maneuverability and speed |
| Advanced materials | Lightweight and streamlined structures |
For Maximum Oxygen Absorption
When you think about it, axolotls are pretty strange little creatures. For one thing, they don’t have any lungs or gills instead, they breathe through their skin by diffusion into the surrounding water. But what’s even more unusual is that they have external gills instead of internal ones like most amphibians and fish do.
Why would an animal evolve to have such a strange respiratory system? Well for one thing, axolotls tend to live in very shallow waters with low oxygen levels (the bottom of an old lake or stream).
This means that it would be hard for them to absorb enough oxygen from the water if they only had internal gills since all that extra distance would mean less oxygen could get through at once.
Another reason why this may be beneficial is because having external gills allows them to take in more surface area which means more oxygen can get absorbed at once!
And since these little guys are relatively small animals (they average around 6 inches long), this can mean big gains when compared with other species whose respiratory organs don’t come close in size!
Ever wondered why axolotls prefer to live in water? Our article on why do axolotls live in water provides insights into their aquatic lifestyle and the importance of water habitats for these remarkable creatures.
So They Can Regrow Limbs
You may be wondering: why do axolotls have external gills? Why don’t they just have internal ones like most other amphibians?
It’s because axolotls can regrow body parts. When an axolotl loses a limb, it can grow back a new one in its place.
That’s because the cells surrounding their gills are stem cells that have the ability to turn into any other type of cell. They’re also able to regenerate their tails, head and even heart if necessary (although this does not happen often).
So They Can Survive Immaturely
The external gills of axolotls are what allow them to survive for so long without food. When you’re an adult and have a full-fledged set of lungs, your body needs oxygen from the air in order to survive and function properly. That’s why we need to breathe every few minutes or so.
But when you’re still an embryo, your body doesn’t quite know how to use all that extra oxygen yet (or at least not as efficiently).
For this reason, axolotls don’t need as much oxygen as their adult counterparts do and if they did get a lot of it, they would probably die because their bodies can’t handle all that excess fuel!
Instead, they only use one-third as much energy as adult salamanders do; which means that they can go months without eating anything! As long as there’s enough water around them and enough humidity in the air (which is pretty easy since axolotls live underwater), they’ll be able to stay alive with no problems whatsoever!
“Witness the captivating color transformations of axolotls! Discover the secrets behind why axolotls turn black and delve into the intriguing factors that contribute to their stunning melanistic pigmentation.
They breathe through their gills, and those gills are very delicate.
They breathe through their gills, and those gills are very delicate. So the axolotl has skin flaps that cover the gills when they aren’t in use. When they want to breathe, they flip forward and expose them.
And when they don’t want to breathe, like after eating or during resting periods, they can close back up again so that no water gets into them (this is called buccal pumping).
Since these animals live in water all the time, it would be pretty hard for them to survive if their external gills weren’t covered by flaps of skin at all times!
To protect their gills, they have skin flaps that cover them.
You may be wondering why axolotls have gills, but not all salamanders do. The answer is that axolotls are aquatic animals and they need these external gills to breathe underwater.
They have a protective flap of skin that covers their gills, which helps keep them clean and helps prevent infections. If the gills are damaged, the axolotl will die.
| Gill Protection Mechanisms | Description |
|---|---|
| Skin Flaps | Axolotls have specialized skin flaps that cover their gills |
| Natural Barrier | Skin flaps act as a protective barrier for the delicate gills |
| Shields from Harm | Skin flaps help prevent damage to the gills |
| Preserves Moisture | The skin flaps retain moisture around the gills |
| Facilitates Respiration | Skin flaps ensure optimal oxygen uptake through the gills |
Their external gills help maintain homeostasis for their bodies.
Axolotls have an extra respiratory organ called external gills that enable them to breathe in air and water. These external gills are located behind their head, but they look like regular gills you’d see on fish.
An animal’s respiratory system works by bringing oxygen into its body through the lungs or gills, while getting rid of waste products such as carbon dioxide. Most animals have one type of respiratory system: either internal or external.
Axolotls have both types combined together into one unique organ! This makes them more efficient at breathing than most other animals because they can breathe in oxygen from both sources—through the water column or via air bubbles trapped on top of it (as we’ll discuss later).
From vibrant palettes to earthy hues, axolotls exhibit a range of colors, including brown. Unravel the mysteries of why axolotls turn brown and explore the various factors that influence their coloration in our informative guide.
Water helps axolotls respire through oxygen-rich liquid rather than air.
Because axolotls live underwater, they need to stay moist in order to breathe. They have a specialized respiratory system that absorbs oxygen through the skin and releases carbon dioxide through the gills.
But why are their gills outside of their bodies? Why not keep them inside like most other amphibians?
One reason is because axolotls don’t have lungs! Instead, they rely on their respiratory organs called buccal organs to exchange gases with their environment while they’re submerged in water.
This allows them to absorb oxygen from water via diffusion into their bloodstreams instead of having to come up for air every so often like you do!
Axolotls have a more efficient respiratory system than most animals.
Axolotls have a more efficient respiratory system than most animals.
Axolotls can breathe through the water and not just on land.
The gills that axolotls have are external, which means they stick out from the body rather than being internal like most fish gills. This makes it easier for them to breathe through their skin instead of having to use their mouth like other animals do when they’re underwater.
| Aspect | Efficiency |
|---|---|
| Oxygen Extraction | Axolotls efficiently extract oxygen from water |
| Large Surface Area | Their external gills provide a large surface area |
| Enhanced Oxygen Diffusion | Efficient diffusion of oxygen across gill membranes |
| Adaptation to Aquatic Life | Well-suited respiratory system for their habitat |
| Energy Conservation | Optimal oxygen uptake for efficient energy usage |
They can maintain a low body temperature even in warm water because of their ability to breathe through the water.
But how do axolotls, who are cold-blooded animals, stay warm while they’re submerged in water? The answer is that they actually breathe through their skin and gills. They can do this because of the unique way their circulatory systems are set up.
They have two hearts: one pumps blood to their lungs (like other mammals), while the second pumps blood to their gills. This allows them to breathe through both areas of the body at once!
This ability also helps keep their bodies cool since more oxygen goes into each breath when you are submerged in water than would be available if you were on land—which means that it takes less energy for your body’s metabolism to function at a lower temperature than it would if you were living on land instead of underwater.”
The transformation of axolotls, known as morphing, is a remarkable phenomenon. Dive into the details of why axolotls morph and explore the intriguing stages and biological processes involved in their fascinating life cycle.
Conclusion
You should now know that axolotls have external gills because they breathe through their skin and the use of lungs requires too much energy.
They also have external gills because they help them stay agile in the water while being able to absorb oxygen from it. The most important thing to remember is that these animals are very interesting creatures with many adaptations that make them unique!
Further Reading
Here are some additional resources for further reading on axolotls:
Wikipedia – Axolotl: Explore the comprehensive Wikipedia page on axolotls to gain in-depth knowledge about their biology, behavior, and conservation status.
World Wildlife Fund – Meet the Peter Pan of Salamanders: The Axolotl: Discover fascinating insights about axolotls and their unique characteristics as the “Peter Pan” of salamanders in this article by World Wildlife Fund.
National Geographic – Axolotl: Dive into the world of axolotls with National Geographic’s informative article, which covers various aspects of their biology, habitat, and conservation.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about axolotls:
What is the lifespan of an axolotl?
The average lifespan of an axolotl ranges from 10 to 15 years, although some individuals can live up to 20 years with proper care.
Can axolotls regrow their lost body parts?
Yes, axolotls are renowned for their impressive regenerative abilities. They can regrow lost body parts, including limbs, spinal cord, heart tissue, and even parts of their brain.
What do axolotls eat?
Axolotls are carnivorous and primarily feed on a diet consisting of small aquatic animals such as worms, insects, small fish, and crustaceans. They can also consume various types of live or frozen food specifically formulated for aquatic amphibians.
Can axolotls live outside of water?
While axolotls are fully aquatic and predominantly live in water, they possess lungs and can breathe air. However, they are not adapted to live exclusively outside of water and require a fully aquatic environment to thrive.
Do axolotls make good pets?
Axolotls can make fascinating and unique pets for amphibian enthusiasts. They have specific care requirements, including appropriate tank setup, water parameters, and feeding habits. It’s crucial to understand their needs and provide proper care to ensure their well-being.
I am Dr Hellen James a veterinarian, pet lover, and writer. I have many years of experience caring for pets, including dogs, cats, birds, and fish (and even axolotls!). I love spending time with the animals in my life, especially when they are sick or need love.