Axolotl

General Information

Axolotls grow to be 15–30 cm long, although some individuals can reach up to 45 cm. Males are generally slimmer with longer tails, while females have broader bodies, especially during the breeding season. Unlike most amphibians, axolotls do not go through metamorphosis as they grow up. Instead, they stay permanently in their juvenile state, never losing their gills or moving to living on land. 

Axolotls are carnivorous and feed on a variety of small aquatic animals, including worms, insect larvae, crustaceans, small fish, and molluscs. They locate prey using their keen sense of smell and quickly suck food into their mouths using a powerful vacuum-like feeding action.

Latin name – Ambystoma mexicanum
Class – Amphibia
Family – Ambystomatidae
IUCN Status – Critically Endangered
Habitat – Freshwater lakes and canals
Distribution – Native to Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City, Mexico