Question: Axolotl Anatomy

[imzunicorn]

I'm just curious, where does the water go in for the axolotl to breath? What I mean by "water going in" is where is the actual gill part located? Cos you know how on fish, they have flaps that open up to suck water in? Well, I'm just wondering if the section between their frill and head is where they suck the water in or if the frill itself absorbs the water?

 

[Chirple]

The "feathery tufts" are their external gills. You can see them flapping them sometimes to help facilitate gas exchange (this is normal, although rapid flapping is a sign of irritation / something wrong).

 

[imzunicorn]

Well, the flapping could just as easily be them sucking in the water. That's why I asked.

Anyway, the reason I did ask is because the other day I fed them some bloodworms. I normally don't feed them bloodworms because they're a pain the butt, but we have a bunch because we've given most of our fish away. They got everywhere, like always, but this time there were worms stuck behind their frill, in the area I described earlier. It wasn't just casually lodged in there, I had to pull the worms out with tweezers. Which is what made me think that was their gill.

 

[Azhael]

Like Chirple said, the gills are external, no portion is internalized. The opening is characteristic of all larval caudates.
The opening is partially used to create a current through the external gills, but mainly to allow for the "vaccuum" method of eating, which is also very widespread among fish. This opening closes during metamorphosis.
The eficacy of external gills is inferior to internal gills which greatly help maximize oxygen absortion.
It works on caudates, because they have suplemental oxygen absortion systems. All caudates have permeable skins that allow for oxygen exchange, specially in the tissues of their mouth. Most adult caudates, also have lungs.
Some "primitive" fish also have external gills in their juvenile forms, which works because they also have lungs.