Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum).
Image: FakirNL, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
At a glance
- IUCN category
- CR · Critically Endangered
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The axolotl is a salamander famous for keeping its larval form — including feathery external gills — throughout life, a trait called neoteny. Its wild population is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Although axolotls are common in aquariums and laboratories worldwide, the wild population survives only in the remnant lake and canal system of Xochimilco near Mexico City.
Range & habitat
Native only to the remnant lake and canal system of Xochimilco near Mexico City.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Habitat loss and urban water pollution
- Invasive introduced fish such as tilapia and carp
- Reduced and degraded wetland habitat
Why it matters
The axolotl is a key model animal for studying regeneration, and its situation shows how a species can be abundant in captivity yet nearly gone in the wild.
Abundant in captivity and research, but the wild population in Xochimilco is assessed as Critically Endangered.
Gallery
An axolotl — Critically Endangered in the wild.
Image: Ruben Undheim, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
Sources
Sources for Axolotl
- IUCN Red List — look up Axolotl (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
If axolotls are everywhere in pet shops, why are they endangered?
Why does the axolotl keep its gills?
Last updated: