Axolotl Facts
The axolotl is a critically endangered mole salamander from Mexico that reaches adulthood without metamorphosis, staying fully aquatic with visible external gills for life.
- Class
- Amphibian
- Scientific name
- Ambystoma mexicanum
- Conservation status
- Critically endangered (IUCN)
About the axolotl
Most salamanders change form as they grow up, but the axolotl skips that step. Scientists call this neoteny: it becomes sexually mature while keeping its larval look, living in water with obvious gills. That makes it easy to confuse with larvae of related species such as the tiger salamander. Wild axolotls lived in linked lakes and wetlands in the Mexican highlands, including Xochimilco and Chalco.
Most of that habitat is gone. The lakes began drying out under the Aztecs, the loss sped up in the 20th century, and Mexico City now covers much of the area. Invasive fish such as tilapia and carp pushed wild numbers down further, to somewhere around 50 to 1,000 adults. A big captive population survives, though, and labs study axolotls for their ability to regrow limbs and gills, and even parts of the eyes and brain.
Did you know?
- The name axolotl comes from Classical Nahuatl.
- Zoos and public aquariums now commonly display axolotls.
- The axolotl is listed under Appendix II of CITES, the international treaty on trade in endangered species.
Questions about the axolotl
Is the axolotl endangered?
Yes. The IUCN rates it critically endangered, with roughly 50 to 1,000 adults left in the wild.
Can axolotls regrow body parts?
Yes. They can regrow limbs and gills, plus pieces of the eyes and brain, which makes them valuable in research.
Sources
- Wikidata Q22718, checked October 8, 2026
- Wikipedia: Axolotl, checked October 8, 2026
Facts are compiled from these open sources and rewritten in our own words. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.