Mexico City, May 9, 2026 – A remarkable discovery has brought a glimmer of hope for one of Mexico City’s most iconic and endangered species: the Altiplano Axolotl (Ambystoma velasci). Five wild specimens of this endemic amphibian were found in Lake Tláhuac-Xico, a positive development given its current threatened status due to habitat degradation.
A Significant Sighting for an Endangered Species
The Altiplano Axolotl, distinct from the more famous Xochimilco Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), primarily inhabits temperate and cold water bodies in the high-altitude regions of central Mexico, known as the Mexican Altiplano.
This species is currently classified as threatened, with its populations having drastically declined due to habitat loss, water pollution, and agricultural pressures. The sighting of five wild individuals is therefore a cause for celebration among conservationists.
Monitoring Efforts Lead to Breakthrough Discovery
The National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (Conanp), in collaboration with community brigades and supported by the Program for the Protection and Restoration of Ecosystems and Priority Species (PROREST), maintains continuous monitoring in the water bodies of Lake Tláhuac-Xico. Their objective is to record biological diversity and document the presence of priority species, including the Altiplano Axolotl.
During these monitoring activities, researchers Juan Daniel Aguilar Montes and Carlos Omar Becerra Soria from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), alongside Natural Protected Area (ANP) personnel, successfully observed five Altiplano Axolotl specimens in their natural habitat within one of the ANP’s water bodies.
This species is endemic to Mexico and is listed as Subject to Special Protection (Pr) under NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. The finding is particularly significant given the decline of axolotl populations across the country, primarily caused by habitat loss and fragmentation, water pollution, and the introduction of invasive exotic species.
Ecological Importance of Lake Tláhuac-Xico and Conservation Actions
The Natural Resources Protection Area of Lake Tláhuac-Xico was decreed on January 8, 2024, encompassing an area of 3,545.41 hectares within the Tláhuac territorial demarcation in Mexico City and the municipality of Valle de Chalco Solidaridad in the State of Mexico.
This territory represents one of the last wetlands in central Mexico, featuring aquatic and submerged vegetation characteristic of the Basin of Mexico and its lake areas. These ecosystems provide essential microhabitats for the reproduction, refuge, and feeding of a wide variety of species.
The presence of the Altiplano Axolotl in Lake Tláhuac-Xico provides crucial information about the species’ resilience and underscores the importance of strengthening community biological monitoring and academic collaboration for the conservation and restoration of lake ecosystems.
The joint efforts of community brigades and technical personnel facilitate the identification of critical areas for the protection of at-risk species and enable the implementation of effective strategies for their safeguarding.
Conanp and community brigades will continue monitoring and searching for the species in other water bodies within the Natural Protected Area. This ongoing effort aims to strengthen conservation actions and ensure the survival of the Altiplano Axolotl, a symbol of Mexico’s endemic biodiversity and the ecological richness of the Basin of Mexico.
Source: https://www.infobae.com/mexico/2026/05/09/reaparece-el-ajolote-del-altiplano-en-cdmx-encuentran-cinco-ejemplares-en-lago-tlahuac-xico/
