The axolotl (/ˈæksəlɒtəl/ ; from Classical Nahuatl: āxōlōtl [aːˈʃoːloːtɬ] ) (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a species of paedomorphic mole salamander, meaning they mature without undergoing metamorphosis into the terrestrial adult form; the adults remain fully aquatic with obvious external gills. This trait, although somewhat unusual among the majority of amphibians, is not unique to axolotls. Furthermore, this is apparent as axolotls may be difficult to distinguish from the larval stage of other neotenic adult mole salamanders (Ambystoma spp.), such as the occasionally paedomorphic tiger salamander (A. tigrinum) which are widespread in North America; or with mudpuppies (Necturus spp.), which bear a superficial resemblance to axolotls, but are from a different family of salamanders.
Axolotls originally inhabited a system of interconnected wetlands and lakes in the Mexican highlands; they were known to inhabit the smaller lakes of Xochimilco and Chalco, and are also presumed to have inhabited the larger lakes of Texcoco and Zumpango. These waterways were mostly drained by Spanish settlers after the conquest of the Aztec Empire, leading to the destruction of much of the axolotl's natural habitat, which is now largely occupied by Mexico City. Despite this, they remained abundant enough to form part of the staple in the diet of native Mexica during the colonial era. Today, due to continued urbanization in Mexico City, which causes water pollution in the remaining waterways, as well as the introduction of invasive species such as tilapia and carp, the axolotls are now near extinction. This can be seen as the species has been listed as critically endangered in the wild, with a decreasing population of around 50 to 1,000 adult individuals, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and is listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
