So Squee! Friday presents the Axolotl

If you've never heard of the Mexican salamander the Axolotl before (pronounced ack-suh-lah-tuhl), you're in for a treat! Clearly the inspiration for the water type Pokemon Wooper, the Axolotl is an unique amphibian in that it never undergoes any stages of metamorphosis during it's transition into adulthood (a trait called neoteny).

An amazing feature among these little guys is their ability to regrow lost limbs! (Cute and resourceful!) They are also, unfortunately, endangered in their natural wild habitat (lake Xochimilco in Mexico).

Pet Axolotls are popular pets among humans, and can survive for a very long time provided they are given proper care. They require cooler temperatures to maintain their slow metabolism and specific substrate with fine sand because they sometimes eat tiny bits of stone or gravel. Okay, so they're not the brightest of amphibians, but look at how cute they are!

If you ever plan on keeping Axolotls, be careful not to pair them with fish that like to nip - they can nibble on the Axolotl's exposed frilly gills! And there's always a good chance your Axolotl will eat anything smaller than itself. They can also grow up to a foot long, so they require a large aquarium!

Axolotls are usually black or mottled brown, but the white/albino varieties (pictured here) are very popular. Axolotls also live quite a long time - up to 15 years - so if you ever decide to get one, be sure you're ready for a long-term pet!

Need something to make the cold more bearable? Watch this compilation of dogs eating snow!

So Squee! Friday presents: The Hedgehog

 

These spiny little cuties are native to parts of Europe, Asia, and Africa. They are also found in New Zealand and Scotland via introduction to the wild. Most of them are nocturnal, but you will find many of the species awake during the day as well.

Surprisingly enough, hedgehogs are actually quite vocal. Depending on the type (there are seventeen species of hedgehog!) they can squeak, grunt, and snuffle.

 

Have you ever seen a frightened or startled hedgehog raise its quills or disappear into a spiny ball? A hedgehog’s back is made up of two large muscles, which control the positioning of the quills. They can use these muscles to fully cover themselves with spines and pulling exposed parts of their body, like their heads and feet, inside.

Some species of hedgehog, typically the African pygmy, make very cute pets! They can live up to ten years if properly cared for, but they don’t like too many other pets and prefer to live alone. Even though the African pygmy is only about six to nine inches long, it requires a very large cage because it is so active. They’re not stinky like some unique pets, and are described by pet owners as quiet, clean, and sweet-tempered. 

Corgi at the Playground!

Buddy Templeton, one of the two Youtube corgis who captured our hearts while swinging on baby swings, recently revisited his favorite park playground and slid down his favorite twisty slide! Watch as this little pro runs around the playground to go down the slide again and again.

Adorable mouse tries to take home enormous biscuit.

We all have those days where we come up against tasks we feel are impossible to tackle. If you’re feeling like that today, take a moment to watch this mouse struggling to take home this enormous biscuit. Hard work and perseverance will pay off!

Red Pandas: So Squee!

Look at this little cutie!

Photo by Robert Mooney.

Red pandas (sometimes referred to as the lesser panda, the cat-bear, and the firefox) are much smaller than their giant black-and-white namesake. Once thought to be related to raccoons and bears, the small tree-dwelling mammals are actually a part of the previously thought extinct Ailuridae family.

Photo by Greg Hume.

They resemble fluffy brown/red cats with shaggy tails and a shuffling walk due to their short front legs. They spend their days sleeping and eat bamboo, bird eggs, fruit, and insects. They even clean themselves similarly to wild and domestic cats.

Photo by ryonouske. 

Although they are typically solitary animals, overlapping territories and shared resources are typical – these creatures conserve their energy, so they only cover up to 1,000 feet of their home territories within any given day, making contact and interaction with other red pandas in their area rare.

So sleepy! Photo by William Scot.

Red pandas are native to the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China. Their population is declining due to habitat loss and poaching, with scientists unable to gauge an accurate number of the remaining population. Zoos around the world are taking part in the Red Panda Species Survival Program, housing red pandas for long-term research of the species in hopes to preserve their survival.

Watch a group of red pandas in captivity playing together in the snow.