"A rare "Peter Pan" amphibian native to Mexico has performed a Christmas "miracle" - by becoming a salamander.

William Glover, from South Molton in Devon, acquired two axolotls which are only found in Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco near Mexico City.

The creatures spend their lives as neonate tadpoles which can breed, but very rarely undergo metamorphosis.

But Dilly, one of Mr Glover's axolotls, has lost its external gills and will soon be an air-breathing land lubber";



Full story;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/7161611.stm



Wow i didn't know that axolotls could do that, i just assumed they constantly lived their entire lives in their newt-like apperance !

Normally they do, it's more a defence mechanism type thing. When the water conditions are too bad for them to live in, they grow lungs and run away!

But instead of living 25 years, it's only 5; it rarely happens outside of the wild either.

Shame for the Axolotl, Im suprised that story would make the news.

It's not impossible by any means; in theory you can force them to change by varied methods although, as mentioned, it shortens lifespan and isn't guarenteed.

Clever though. We had a pair of them once a long time ago. I didn't like them much, they had to be hand fed and it was all a bit creepy putting your hand in and waiting for something to attack you (albeit a gummy attack).

How is it a shame???

Its very stressful for them, and halves their livespan.