Axolotl

The Fascinating Water Dragon

Image: "Axolotl" by th1098 [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

General Information

The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a paedomorphic (retaining juvenile features as an adult) salamander that lives underwater. Although it is native to the lakes of Maxico, it is now critically endangered by urbanization and water pollution leading to its status as "critically endangered", with a decreassing wild population of less than 1000 adults.

Physical description:

Ranges in length from 15 to 45 cm
Has external gills and a caudal fin extending from behind the head
Wide Heads with lidless eyes
Have three pairs of external gill stalks (rami) behind their heads.

Color variations (resulting from mutations of pigmentation genes)

Leucistic: pale pink body
Xanthic: grey body
Albino: pale pink or white bodies, with red eyes
Melanoid: all black or dark blue body

Axolotl's special ability!

Axolotls have an ability to regenerate limbs, organs, and other parts of their central nervous system.
As a result, Axolotls are researched extensively, to see how this can be applied in humans.