Captive-bred axolotls thrive in Mexican wetlands, researchers find

The axolotl genome and the evolution of key tissue formation regulators

Salamanders serve as important tetrapod models for developmental, regeneration and evolutionary studies. An extensive molecular toolkit makes the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) a key representative salamander for molecular investigations. Here we report the sequencing and assembly of the 32-gigabase-pair axolotl genome using an approach that combined long-read sequencing, optical mapping and development of a new genome assembler (MARVEL).…

Captive-bred axolotls thrive in Mexican wetlands, researchers find

Fans of the iconic axolotl could see the critically endangered species stage a comeback in its native Mexico City, as researchers announced their findings that captive-bred axolotls can survive in the wild.Researchers at the Autonomous University of Baja California this week said that they tracked a total of 18 captive-bred axolotls — nine male and nine female — which were released across two aquatic locations in southern Mexico City in 2017 and…

BLK ALERTS - Captive-bred axolotls thrive in Mexican wetlands, researchers find

The cartoonish-looking salamanders have faced an uncertain future in the wild. But researchers hope that breeding axolotls in captivity and releasing them in the wild can help their numbers. (Image credit: Francois Guillot)

Captive-bred axolotls thrive in Mexican wetlands, researchers find : NPR

An axolotl, also known as a Mexican salamander, is pictured at a shop in Paris. Francois Guillot/AFP via Getty Images hide caption toggle caption Francois Guillot/AFP via Getty Images Fans of the iconic axolotl could see the critically endangered species stage a comeback in its native Mexico City, as researchers announced their findings that captive-bred axolotls can survive in the wild. Researchers at the Autonomous University of Baja Californi…