Axolotl - Where From and Just A Funny Word?

Spyyk is an Axolotl (Ambystoma Mexicanum), native to Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco of the Valley of Mexico. Although he comes from Mexico, he isn't a tropical animal - in fact quite the opposite - they don't like it hot!

Lake Xochimilco was actually an ancient, cold basin lake in the mountains. The temperature there rarely rises above 20°C, and falls to 6 or 7°C in the winter. However, today the lake is is only a series of canals, as it was drained to supply the city with its springs.

Amazingly, the Axolotl still just manages to survive here, as a registered endangered species with CITES. (Entered into CITES database, July 1975)

Spyyk lives in a specially designed tank, in a nice cold corner:



He has pretty much everything a young 'Lotl could wish for - and you can find more about that on his Tank page.


Axe - oh - lot - uhl.

Strange, isn't it?

It actually originates from Nahuatl, an Aztec language.

Atl means water, and xolotl means doll - Waterdoll. No single translation is technically "correct"; Axolotl can mean water-slave, water-player, water-monster, and many other meanings.

It's a common misconception that xolotl means Dog - Nahuatl for dog is itzcuintli. This idea came from the Aztec God, Xolotl - shown as dog headed. Mind you, he also had twisted, backward hands and feet - and too many at that:



Chances are it was called so because it was disturbing and strange; a derisive name for the "ugly beast". The Axolotl could well be named for him, as his story goes like this:

Xolotl was the God of Lightning, Fire, Bad Luck and Names - he was a soul guide for the dead to Mictlan, the Aztec afterlife and twin brother of Quetzalocoatl, the Feathered Serpent. As lord of the evening star, he cared for the Sun, guiding her to the ocean, and guarding her during the night on her dangerous journey through the underworld, bringing forth fire.

He is listed in myth to have been the creator of humankind with his brother Quetzolocoatl, entering the underworld to grind the bones of the dead into mash, mixed and given life with the blood of Gods.

Whilst creating the humans, and as the other Gods were sacrificed by Ecatl the wind, he decided he didn't want to die. He escaped to Earth to avoid being made part of the new creation. Here he assumed many shapes: two stalks of maize from one root (named by the field workers thereafter Xolotl); a maguey plant in two parts (again named by the workers, Mexolotl) and then dived into the water... Transforming into a hideous salamander - the Axolotl.

The remaining Gods found him here, captured and killed Xolotl, and gave him as nourishment to the Sun and Moon. Many say Xolotl bred with other salamanders in a fit of madness before he was captured - so you never know, you may well be caring for the son/daughter of a God.

Better be nice to your pet - scary Aztec Daddy is watching from above!