Treeehugger has an article about what has to be the cutest creature on earth being close to extinction. The creature, the Axolotl salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum), aka Mexican walking fish or Mexican water monster, is threatened because of continued damage to its natural habitat.

Check out the Treehugger article (with loads more pictures) here.

There is also a news article about them here.

Mexico City's 'water monster' nears extinction

MEXICO CITY – Beneath the tourist gondolas in the remains of a great Aztec lake lives a creature that resembles a monster — and a Muppet — with its slimy tail, plumage-like gills and mouth that curls into an odd smile.

The axolotl, also known as the "water monster" and the "Mexican walking fish," was a key part of Aztec legend and diet. Against all odds, it survived until now amid Mexico City's urban sprawl in the polluted canals of Lake Xochimilco, now a Venice-style destination for revelers poled along by Mexican gondoliers, or trajineros, in brightly painted party boats.

But scientists are racing to save the foot-long salamander from extinction, a victim of the draining of its lake habitat and deteriorating water quality. In what may be the final blow, nonnative fish introduced into the canals are eating its lunch — and its babies.
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OMFG! IT ALMOST LOOKS LIKE A MUDKIP! (if it was blue)

Awww :3 It's so cute!

And it does look kinda like a mudkip o.o;
I wonder if that's where Pokemon got the idea.

Weird... You're right!

So i herd u lyke mudkipz

Originally Posted by Sweet Kandi

Awww :3 It's so cute!

And it does look kinda like a mudkip o.o;
I wonder if that's where Pokemon got the idea.

Yeah, it did O:
Pokemon is nothing but little 'parodies' of animals O:
Well, some...
Mostly all of them xP

Well, back to subject/topic
I went to Xochimilco
It is kinda polluted but not that polluted! Though the area have been going urban, a bit suburban...
Poor creatures
Hope they don't go extinct D:

so i herd u liek mudkips, Admin

My Axolotl, named Poseidon, looks just like those pictures. They are wonderful amphibians, and I really hope they can make some progress in their conservation efforts. There are plenty of them being bred in captivity, but it would be very sad to lose them in their natural habitat.

Originally Posted by Aubrey Hepburn

My Axolotl, named Poseidon, looks just like those pictures. They are wonderful amphibians, and I really hope they can make some progress in their conservation efforts. There are plenty of them being bred in captivity, but it would be very sad to lose them in their natural habitat.

*gasp* You have one? Can you post a picture or two so I can get an idea of their size?

Originally Posted by Admin

*gasp* You have one? Can you post a picture or two so I can get an idea of their size?

Here's a pic of my Axolotl, Poseidon, taken over a year ago. He is about a third larger again now than he was in the picture, but it is incredibly hard to get a clear pic of an animal underwater. In the pic, he was going to eat a shrimp pellet I was offering him from my fingers. He prefers to eat this way.

Oh, big male Axolotls can max out at 8-10 inches long or so. AND, their normal color is mottled grey/brown. Poseidon is a genuine albino, like the ones in the previous photos.

Three words.

Best. Sushi. Ever.

ZOE!

I need to look into Axolotls... They look to be quite a unique pet... With an emphasis on pet... Not food. *ahem*

Originally Posted by Zoe

Three words.

Best. Sushi. Ever.

Fortunately, the timestamp indicates that Zoe's not talking about MY Axolotl. :p He is a chubby little fellow, but food is the farthest thing from my mind when I look at him. xD

They are a wonderful pet. No smell, no mess, easy to feed, just need dechlorinated water changes when the tank gets dirty, and that's about it. You can even keep them in a big Rubbermaid full of de-tox water. Price isn't bad, either. I paid $50 for Poseidon a few years back, but now you can generally find them for $20-$30 in both color morphs.

Poseidon is always a hit at educational talks. Even people who don't like "creepy" creatures fall for his perma-smile.

*presses her purple kitty face and huge gold eyes against the wall of Aubrey's aquarium and just watches hungrily...* You are saved, smiling one, by my fear of water.

Aw... I did a report on those once. Their so cute.