With wispy gills, a permanent smile, and the astonishing ability to regrow parts of its body, the axolotl is one of the world’s strangest creatures. Axolotls are sometimes nicknamed the 'walking fish' because of the way they move along the bottom of lakes and tanks using their four short legs.
But axolotls are not fish at all, rather a rare species of tiger salamander native to Mexico. The Peter Pans of the water world, axolotls don't go through metamorphosis to become adults like other salamanders.
In recent years, axolotls have exploded in popularity online thanks to social media, video games such as Minecraft, and their almost cartoon-like appearance. But behind the internet fame lies one of the rarest amphibians on earth, and an animal that is fighting for survival.
Where do axolotls come from?
The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), also known as the Mexican salamander, originates from the lakes and canals of southern Mexico City, particularly Lake Xochimilco. According to legend, axolotl can be linked to the Aztec god of fire and lightning named Xolotl, who is said to have transformed himself into an axolotl and to escape to Lake Xochimilco to escape the wrath of fellow gods.
Unlike most amphibians, axolotls never fully outgrow their juvenile stage. They retain their external gills and aquatic lifestyle throughout adulthood, which is a biological trait known as neoteny. This gives them their distinctive appearance and means they spend their entire lives underwater.
Wild axolotls are now critically endangered due to pollution, urban expansion, and invasive fish species introduced into their habitat. Researchers estimate fewer than 1,000 may remain in the wild.
What do axolotls look like?
Axolotls usually grow to around 20–30 centimetres long and have broad heads, tiny eyes, smooth skin, and three sets of feathery external gills protruding from either side of the neck, behind the head. Their long tails help to propel them through water.
Wild axolotls are typically dark brown or black with mottled markings, although captive breeding has produced pink, white, golden and albino varieties that are now commonly seen in aquariums and online videos. Their permanently smiling expression has become one of the species’ most recognisable features.
Perhaps most famously, axolotls can regenerate lost limbs, parts of their spinal cord, sections of their heart, and even parts of their brain. Scientists have studied them for decades, including at the National Institutes of Health, in the hope of understanding how regenerative medicine might one day help humans.
What do axolotls eat?
In the wild, axolotls are carnivorous hunters that feed on worms, insect larvae, molluscs, small fish, and crustaceans. Rather than chewing, they use suction to pull prey into their mouths.
Captive axolotls are commonly fed earthworms, bloodworms and specially formulated pellets. Experts say they require cool, clean water and carefully managed tank conditions, which makes them more demanding pets than many people realise.
How long do axolotls live?
Axolotls have a long lifespan of 10-20 years, possibly partly thanks to their regenerative abilities.
Axolotl found in a Welsh river
Axolotls are not native to Britain, but sightings occasionally occur when escaped or abandoned pets are discovered in ponds and rivers. One of the most unusual recent cases happened in April 2026, when a 10-year-old girl found an injured axolotl beneath a bridge near the River Ogmore in south Wales.
The animal, nicknamed “Dippy” by the family, is believed to be the first documented axolotl found living in the British wild. Though experts suspect it had been illegally released by a pet owner before being discovered with injuries to its tail and stomach.
The rescue quickly attracted international attention after the family shared updates of Dippy’s recovery on TikTok. Wildlife experts praised the discovery, but also warned that releasing non-native species into the wild is dangerous both for the animals themselves and for local ecosystems.
Top image: Pablo PORCIUNCULA/via Getty Images
