What is an axolotl?
Quick Answer
The axolotl is a Mexican salamander that keeps its juvenile features, such as feathery gills, for life and can regrow lost body parts.
The Full Story
Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) are amphibians native only to the lake and canal system of Xochimilco near Mexico City. Unlike most salamanders, they usually never undergo metamorphosis, remaining aquatic and keeping their external gills as adults, a trait called neoteny. They are famous for their regenerative powers and can regrow limbs, tail, spinal cord and even parts of the heart and brain. This makes them important animals in medical research. In the wild, axolotls are critically endangered because of pollution, urban growth and introduced fish.
Key Facts
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"The smiling salamander that never grows up and can regrow its own legs."