Jul 21, 2008

Ajolotes are Bipedal (Kinda)

Tina saw my post on the slow worm, which is in fact a legless lizard. Then she found this creature, which has only a single pair of legs, but is neither a snake nor a lizard. In fact, it is unusual for creatures of this genus, the Amphisbaenians, to have legs at all. First a creature that should have legs, now one that shouldn't.

Photo source: Unexplained Mysteries



















Say hello to the ajolote of Mexico. As you might expect, given the configuration of the claws and the lack of pigmentation, the ajolote is a subterranean, burrowing creature. The scales are arranged in rings, giving it a wormy appearance. The nubby tail doesn't help either. This is a very confused creature.

But it goes to show that it's hard to find good looking a subterranean animal. But what good are looks if you never see the light? It's easy to be ugly when you can't see yourself in the mirror.

Thanks, Tina.

15 comments:

  1. AnonymousJuly 21, 2008

    I dunno. You say ugly, I say a cutie-patootie. :B

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  2. lol, I think it's adorable...little claws...eeheehee.. =]

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  3. AnonymousJuly 22, 2008

    A face only a mother could love! LOL. Great post as always!

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  4. AnonymousJuly 22, 2008

    This seems a bit weird for a mexican creature, Ajolote is the
    Spanish word for the axolotl:
    http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ajolote

    vs

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axolotl

    --Ratz

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  5. AnonymousJuly 22, 2008

    Its widdle face and widdle arms/hands are cute... but the rest of it, especially the stubby tale, give me the willies! It looks like an octopus tentacle.

    Sherry SofN

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  6. AnonymousJuly 22, 2008

    It's a fake...

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  7. AnonymousJuly 22, 2008

    Hm... wiki redirect to axolotl which looks somewhat completely different than creature on the picture, but I've found another definition for the title: Bipes biporus

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  8. er, i hate to be the downer, but i believe this is a photoshop fake. as far as i can remember (which for a lot of people is proof enough) this was one of the photos in a contest for merging different kinds of animals. this was around 1997-1998.

    anyhoo, sorry i can't remember the site. however, i am somewhat of an armchair biologist and i don't think this is real!

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  9. AnonymousJuly 26, 2008

    vaguegirl,
    It's not a fake, just google for
    "bipes biporus" and you will see!

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  10. Vaguegirl--

    Yes, it's real!

    http://www.tigr.org/reptiles/species.php?genus=Bipes&species=biporus

    --TwoDragons

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  11. unless the whole world is against me, you are right! thanks for letting me know without being mean about it. what a f*cking WEIRD beastie, eh?

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  12. AnonymousJune 10, 2010

    No es un ajolote, inútil!!! Pon "ajolote" en google imagenes y mira lo que sale.

    Hay que ser inútil para publicar algo sin investigarlo antes...

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  13. AnonymousMay 10, 2012

    not an Axólotl, anyway,they are magnificent and marvelous creatures, they can regenerate any tissue, even it's brain or full limbs.

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