Do you recognize this critter? Its six frilly gills look like a crown of feathers. It has a long, flat tail and seems to be smiling. You may have seen it in games like Minecraft and Pokémon. But this is much more than a cartoon character! It’s a real-life animal called an axolotl (ak-suh-LAH-tuhl).

This incredible creature is a type of salamander. It has many unusual traits. For example, it can regrow lost body parts! For people in Mexico, axolotls are important in history and culture. 

Today about 1 million axolotls live in science labs or as pets in homes around the world. But in the wild, they’re dying out. Once you know the true story of axolotls, you might be inspired to share what you know with others.

Do you recognize this critter? It has six frilly gills. They look like a crown of feathers. It has a long, flat tail. It seems to be smiling. You may have seen it in games like Minecraft and Pokémon. But this is much more than a cartoon character! It’s a real-life animal. It’s called an axolotl (ak-suh-LAH-tuhl).

This incredible creature is a type of salamander. It has many unusual traits. For example, it can regrow lost body parts! For people in Mexico, axolotls are important in history and culture.

Today about 1 million axolotls live in captivity around the world. These axolotls live in science labs or as pets in homes. But in the wild, they’re dying out. Knowing the true story of axolotls might inspire you to share what you know with others.

In the 16th century, Spain invaded the land we now call Mexico. Over time, people drained the lakes and wetlands. Then they built cities on the newly solid ground. The axolotls’ habitat began to disappear (see Valley of Mexico: Then and Now). As cities grew crowded, the few remaining waterways became polluted.

Today wild axolotls are found only in an area of Mexico City called Xochimilco (soh-chee-MEEL-koh). They live in narrow canals, or human-made waterways, that flow through the last of the wetlands. 

Scientists think only 50 to 1,000 axolotls remain in their natural habitat. This makes them one of the rarest wild animals on the planet. 

In the 16th century, Spain invaded the land we now call Mexico. Over time, people drained the lakes and wetlands. Then they built cities on the newly solid ground. The axolotls’ habitat began to disappear (see Valley of Mexico: Then and Now). The cities grew crowded. And the few remaining waterways became polluted.

Today wild axolotls are found only in one area of Mexico City. This area is called Xochimilco (soh-chee-MEEL-koh). Axolotls live in narrow canals. These are human-made waterways. The canals flow through the last of the wetlands. Scientists think only 50 to 1,000 axolotls remain in their natural habitat. This makes them one of the rarest wild animals on the planet.

Many people in Mexico worry about axolotls. “They’re an icon for Mexican people,” says Diana Laura Vázquez Mendoza. She studies axolotls in Mexico. “We see our country’s history through the history of axolotls.”

To protect wild axolotls, scientists and farmers in Mexico City have teamed up. Their project has two goals—help food growers return to ancient farming practices and help wild axolotls thrive in their home habitat.

Many people in Mexico worry about axolotls. “They’re an icon for Mexican people,” says Diana Laura Vázquez Mendoza. She studies axolotls in Mexico. “We see our country’s history through the history of axolotls.”

To protect wild axolotls, scientists and farmers in Mexico City have teamed up. Their project has two goals. They want to help food growers return to ancient farming practices. And they want to help wild axolotls thrive in their home habitat.

In the canals where axolotls live, farmers grow flowers and vegetables on special floating gardens. The Indigenous peoples of central Mexico have long farmed this way. 

Researchers created protected areas between the gardens. Barriers made of mesh, plants, and sticks keep out the big fish that hunt axolotls. Plants filter the polluted water. Finally, axolotls have a safe, clean place in the wild to call home. 

In the future, the scientists plan to release captive axolotls in these protected areas. The scientists and farmers hope to create an environment where wild axolotls can grow and thrive once again.

Someday the project may help save the wild population of this strange, smiley creature beloved throughout the world.

In the canals where axolotls live, farmers grow flowers and vegetables on special floating gardens. The Indigenous peoples of central Mexico have long farmed this way.

Researchers created protected areas between the gardens. They used mesh, plants, and sticks to make barriers. These barriers keep out the big fish that hunt axolotls. Plants filter the polluted water. Finally, axolotls have a safe, clean place in the wild to call home.

In the future, the scientists plan to release captive axolotls in these protected areas. The scientists and farmers hope to create the right environment for axolotls. They want it to be a place where wild axolotls can grow and thrive once again.

Someday the project may help save the wild population of this strange, smiley creature beloved throughout the world.