All About Amazing Aquatic Axolotls with Alex the Axolotl!

Week 1 : Axolotl Introduction: How do you say "axolotl"? Where does the word come from? Where do axolotls come from? What is happening to their habitat? Why is it important?  What is habitat destruction and how does it impact all wildlife? What is an invasive species?
Week 2: Axolotl Life Cycle: How do axolotls reproduce? If they reproduce so much, why are they extinct? Why do they keep their gills when other salamanders don't? What are the floofs? Can they live outside of the water? What do baby axolotls look like?
Week 3: Axolotls in Medicine: Did you know Alex is a Doctor?  Talk with Dr. Alex as she discusses her role in helping medical researchers understand the process of regeneration.  We will talk about genetic modification and why some axolotls have a special jellyfish DNA that allows them to glow!
Week 4: Axolotls as Pets:  Can you keep an axolotl at home? Some of the safe ways to purchase and care for an axolotl and keep a pet happy, and basic care requirements for an healthy axie pet!

I am a retired marine biologist and axolotl mom.  I have kept axolotls for years, bred them as well as worked with their genetics in conjunction with Carolina Axolotls.  I also worked in medical research and have experience in veterinary pathology and histotechnology.  I currently teach aquatic science, biology and chemistry at the high school level.

Students are encouraged to bring questions for Alex each week and to share those questions in the class chat prior to meeting times so that Alex can research any answers that we might want to look up and investigate.

30 minutes per week in class, and an estimated 0 - 1 hours per week outside of class.