XNUMX years living in Mexico,

“Showing the true face of Mexico to the world!”

with the motto

I'm Kou Iwasaki, a professional Mexican travel guide and driver.

I am writing from Mexico today.

☝☝☝Aholoth

 

Aholoth.

An amphibian that lives in Mexico.

Write Axolote or Ajolote.

 

When I looked up the Japanese translation of Ajolote in the dictionary,

The last came out with Axolotl.

 

It's not translated... (laughs)

 

"Axolote, what the hell is an axolotl?"

 

AholothWhen I googled (check with Google),

“Wooper Looper”

“Mexican salamander”

“Mexican Salamander”

And so on.

That's what they call it in Japan.

 

That's what I thought.

 

frankly

"Aholoth"

I wish I could call it... (bitter smile)

 

easy to call and remember,

In the first placeoriginal nameDashi. (smile)

 

Aholoth is

same as frogAmphibianso,

a kind of salamanderWhat is it?

 

when i was a kid

While climbing the Northern Alps,

When I lived in Uruki Village, Nagano Prefecture,

I have seen a salamander.

 

There are said to be six species of Ajolotes living in Mexico.

Two of these species live in and around Mexico City.

 

But those twoDesignated as an endangered speciesIt is done.

 

I'm sure many of you know a lot about biology.

Amphibians are

It is easy to understand if you can think of a frog.

When it hatches from the egg, it becomes a tadpole.

Since tadpoles spend their time in water,

They can't breathe with their lungs like humans can.

That's why they need gills, just like fish.

They take in oxygen from the water with their gills.

 

Amphibians are

The gills disappear when they reach adulthood,

lungIt "changes" into a body with

this"Hentai"It's called.

 

People who are crazy are called hentai with the same character,

The meaning is different. (smile)

 

Why is the Mexican ajolote such an important creature?

Despite amphibian

この"Species that do not undergo metamorphosisThat's why.

When they hatch, they already have lungs.

つ ま りNo larval period.

 

Around Mexico City,

I wrote that there are two types of Aholote living here,

Seeds that do not undergo the above-mentioned "metamorphosis"

Ambystoma mexicanum,

Known as Ajolote Mexicano

(Aholote Mexicano）

Is called.

 

This wondrous cultivar is found in southern Mexico City,

Famous for its trajinera (canal boats)

Xochimilco

It is a species that lives only in

However, the deterioration of water quality in Xochimilco,

Due to the expansion of residential areas, etc.

The environment itself where Aholote Mexicano can live is narrowing,

Their numbers are declining,

It is designated as an endangered species.

This includes a review of the traditional farming method chinampa that has continued from Mesoamerica,

It is necessary to take measures such as not using chemical substances such as pesticides in the habitat area of ​​Aholote.

In this world where money matters,

It can be said that we are in a difficult situation in reality.

 

the other one is,

scientific nameAmbystoma valasciIt's called.

 

Valasci is

In the late XNUMXs to early XNUMXs,

A painter who painted Mexican landscapes,

Jose Maria　Velasco

(Jose Maria Velasco)

OfLast nameis named from

 

I am also a favorite painter,

his delicate風景画Through

I can understand the situation around Mexico City and various places at that time.

I also drew Teotihuacan before it was developed “for tourism” like now,

A very interesting painting.

due to interest in nature

Observing nature closely,

I was painting landscapes in Mexico,

His interest also extended to biology.

☝☝☝View from the northernmost point of Mexico City towards the center, XNUMX
Jose Maria Velasco

☝☝☝Teotihuacan, XNUMX
Jose Maria Velasco

☝☝☝Teotihuacan today

Mexico became independent in XNUMX,

Political turmoil continues.

During that time,

Explore the flora, fauna, geology and mineralogy that Mexico is proud of

For the purpose of sending out to the world,

Solida Mexicana de Historia Natural

(Natural Research Institute) was established.

Velasco was a member of that group, researching Aholoth.

 

During the research process,

New Aholoth metamorphosed in XNUMX,

I found Ambystoma valasci.

Initially the new species was called Firedon tigrina

It was called.

 

at that time,

Germans and others are "weird amphibians that don't metamorphose"

brought back to a research institute in their home country to study

When I was researching

This is"perverted"Hm.

In XNUMX,

The Germans "could not undergo metamorphosis due to the poor water quality of Xochimilco."

concluded.

 

To this, Velasco

"The study of flora and fauna is meaningless unless it is done in their natural habitat."

I argue.

"You can't get an accurate answer in the artificially manipulated environment of a laboratory."

about it.

 

After many observations in the natural environment, Velasco

Already in XNUMX he had figured this out.

 

From his great discovery,

inhabits the Basin of Mexico,

Seeds that metamorphose,

VelasciI named it.

This breed is currently only found in limited areas of Mexico and Hidalgo.

It is still listed as an endangered species.

Commonly known as Ajolote altiplano

(Aholote Altiplano)

It is called.

 

What is the Altiplano?

It is the name given to the area of ​​Mexico City and its surrounding area.

 

Many animals are slaughtered for ivory and fur,

Many of them are also threatened with extinction.

Aholoth also probably does not leak,

poaching for its meat,

Due to habitat loss due to water pollution and the expansion of human settlements,

It is in danger of extinction.

Human civilization has developed so far,

Where are we humans headed and what are we aiming for?

What is the economic and technological development that is often talked about?

The negative phenomenon that can occur as a trade-off after continuing to neglect the natural environment, culture and history,

I feel that the time has come to think seriously about

 

By the way, this Aholoth

XNUMX at the earliest,

This means that they are likely to go extinct this year.