The axolotl (/ ˈæksəlɒtəl / ⓘ; from Classical Nahuatl: āxōlōtl [aːˈʃoːloːtɬ] ⓘ; Ambystoma mexicanum) is a species of mole salamander. They are neotenic, fully maturing without undergoing metamorphosis, and adults remain fully aquatic with obvious external gills.
Axolotl, salamander of the family Ambystomatidae, notable for its permanent retention of larval features, such as external gills. It is found in Xochimilco Lake, within Mexico City, where it is classified as a critically endangered species.
Keeping an Axolotl as a pet is one of the most unique and enjoyable adventures an aquarist can embark on. Learn why, and how to care for them.
The axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, is a type of salamander that doesn’t go through metamorphosis. Salamanders are amphibians that, like frogs and newts, start off living in the water.
Axolotls: Meet the amphibians that never grow up - Natural History Museum
Shrouded in mystery, and defying typical biological laws like metamorphosis, the axolotl (pronounced AX-oh-lot-ul), a type of salamander, keeps its webbed feet firmly placed in infancy throughout its life.
What is an axolotl? According to legend, the axolotl is the Aztec god of fire and lightning, Xolotl, who disguised himself as a salamander to avoid being sacrificed.
Axolotls come in many different colors and patterns, called morphs. Think of these morphs like dog breeds—they're all axolotls, but each morph is unique and special. Some axolotl morphs are common, like a Wild Type axolotl, while others are extremely rare, like a Piebald axolotl.