科学家们努力拯救墨西哥的美西螈

Scientists are worried about the future of the axolotl， an unusual Mexican salamander2， and they’re asking for help. The axolotl is a strange， but amazinganimal. Most salamanders go through a big change which allows them to live on land，but axolotls never do. They keep their gills3 and live their whole lives in the water.They can grow a new leg if they lose one.

There are several different kinds of axolotls in Mexico. All of them are in greatdanger. The Mexican axolotl， which is the best-known， is only found in LakeXochimilco near Mexico City. The number of axolotls in Xochimilco has dropped99.5% in less than 20 years.

Scientists at Mexico’s National Autonomous University （UNAM） have beenworking for years to try to save the axolotls. In 2022， the UNAM scientists started aprogram called “Adopt4Axolotl”. They asked people to donate5 money to pay forsaving the axolotl. The program was great， and raised more than $26，000. In 2023，the scientists were trying AdoptAxolotl again. The scientists hope it will raise evenmore money than 2022.

科学家们很担心一种罕见的墨西哥蝾螈———美西螈的未来，他们正在寻求帮助。美西螈是一种奇怪但神奇的动物。大多数蝾螈会经历巨大的变化，让它们能够在陆地上生活，但美西螈不行。它们保留着鳃，一生都生活在水中。如果失去一条腿，它们可以长出一条新腿。

墨西哥有几种不同种类的美西螈。它们都处于严重的濒危状态。最著名的墨西哥美西螈只能在墨西哥城附近的霍奇米尔科湖找到。在不到20 年的时间里，霍奇米尔科湖的美西螈数量下降了99.5%。

墨西哥国立自治大学（UNAM）的科学家们多年来一直致力于拯救美西螈。2022 年，UNAM 的科学家们启动了一个名为“收养美西螈”的项目。他们请求人们捐款拯救美西螈。这个项目非常成功，筹集了超过26000 美元。2023 年，科学家们再次尝试开展该项目。他们希望这次能筹集到比2022 年更多的资金。