The Making of an Endemic and Epistemic Species
The Case of the Axolotl’s Displacement
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.3986/fv.46.1.05Keywords:
Mexican axolotl, habitat, model organism, multispecies entanglements, agricultureAbstract
A curious water-monster, a laboratory organism, a national symbol decorating Mexican pesos banknotes, the axolotl (Ambystoma Mexicanum) is an animal participant in many multispecies entanglements. Since its displacement from the lacustrine valley of Mexico to European laboratories in the mid-nineteenth century, much of the existing scholarship has primarily focused on documenting the transformation of this species into a model organism within scientific research. As a model organism, the axolotl has flourished under controlled conditions, yet in its natural habitat, it is classified as an endangered species. This article adopts a conjuncturalist approach to narrate the history of the axolotl, framing the analysis around its transition from an endemic environment (the lake) to an epistemic space (the laboratory). I argue that this displacement has led to a dissociation between the knowledge produced in its natural habitat and that generated in the artificial setting of the laboratory. By intertwining the narratives and contexts surrounding the axolotl in each environment, the article seeks to foster a dialogue between indigenous perspectives and scientific practices. Additionally, it will demonstrate that habitats are significantly shaped by external factors that often remain unacknowledged once an animal enters the laboratory. Addressing these complexities will reveal that our understanding of a species is intrinsically linked to the context in which it is studied and to the potential for convergence between the narratives of both environments.
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