Saving the Smiling Salamander of Mexico
MEXICO CITY, Mexico — Deep under the water of Lake Xochimilco, a tiny animal looks like it is smiling. This cute creature is called an axolotl. People say its name like "ACK-suh-lah-tuhl." Today, local workers and scientists are teaming up to save the axolotl's muddy home.
Even though some people call it a "walking fish," the axolotl is not a fish at all. It is a kind of salamander. Most salamanders hatch in the water like frogs do. As they grow up, they lose their gills, grow lungs, and climb onto the dry land.
The axolotl does something very different. It stays in the water for its whole life! It keeps its long, feathery gills. Six frilly branches stick out from the sides of its wide head. They look like little crowns. When the axolotl waves these branches, it takes in air from the water. It also has four short legs with long, thin toes. Instead of swimming fast, it likes to walk slowly along the soft mud at the bottom of the lake.
- salamander:
- A small animal with soft skin, four legs, and a long tail that hatches in water.
- gills:
- Body parts that water animals use to take in air from the water.
- scar:
- A mark left on the skin after a cut or hurt heals.
- canals:
- Long, narrow waterways made by people for boats or water flow.
- floating:
- Resting or moving on top of the water without sinking.
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- 1Where do wild axolotls live?
- 2How is an axolotl different from most other salamanders as it grows up?
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About this news article passage for 2nd Grade
“Saving the Smiling Salamander of Mexico” is a news article reading passage about Axolotls, written for 2nd Grade. It takes about 3 minutes to read (493 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.