Axolotl
(Ambystoma mexicanum)
Native to the Mexican Central Valley, a landlocked basin in Mexico.
Ranges from 15 - 45cm (6 - 18in) long.
Using suction to eat, its feeds on Insects, Worms, Mollusks, Crustaceans, small Fish, and even Tadpoles.
Lives 5 - 6 years but can live 10 - 15, even 20 years in captivity.
Axolotl are known for their amazing regenerative abilities. Rather than scarring they are capable of tissue regeneration, restoring limbs, tail, and even vital organs like its eyes, heart, and parts of its brain! Sometimes an Axolotl might regenerate its limbs and grow a new one resulting in extra limbs! Its ability declines a bit with age.
While Axolotl are known for their iconic pink appearance, they are actually much darker in the wild. Its pink color is actually a genetic mutation! The reason why you see so many pink ones is due to selective breeding.
An Axolotl stays in its "tadpole" form all its life, living underwater and never going through metamorphosis like other amphibians. However, if they experience certain stresses they can go through metamorphosis and turn into their salamander form. This usually shortens their lifespan, however, if it goes through metamorphosis on its own, which is an extremely rare occurrence, this doesn't affect its lifespan.
