Axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum), or Mexican Walking Fish, are strange aquatic creatures that have blown scientists’ minds for decades. Known for their feathery gills, wide-eyed grins, and alien-like looks, these amphibians hold secrets that could revolutionize medicine, from regenerating limbs to resisting deadly diseases like cancer.
But despite their almost superpowered abilities, Axolotls are in serious trouble. Their wild populations have dropped dangerously low, thanks to invasive fish species and the destruction of their only native home in Mexico City.
In this article, we’ll take you on a wild ride through 10 bizarre and jaw-dropping Axolotl facts — guaranteed to leave you both amazed and a little unsettled. So sit tight, weird fact lovers. The world of axolotls is about to get way more bizarre than you ever imagined.
1. Axolotl Colors Explained: Why Captive Axolotls Come in Pink, Blue, and Gold
After penetrating the Paris market in 1864, Axolotls gained immense popularity. In a short time, they became pets throughout Europe. Axolotls bred in captivity gained brighter colors, leading to the advent of blue and pink axolotls. Those in the wild maintained their brown or golden-specked hue.
In a study titled Diet-Induced Coloration Changes Within the Axolotl, a group of researchers theorized that there may be a correlation between what axolotls eat and their resulting colors. However, another study titled Pigmentation Loss and Regeneration in a Captive Wild-Type Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum, discovered that salamanders' color change could stem from their genetics, not diet.
Read about the first study at Murray State's Digital Commons and the second study at the BHS.
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Axolotls are bred for different traits called morphs. These could be in the form of a color variation or physical appearance. For coloration, the animals have cells called chromatophores divided into three types: Melanophore (these are cells that produce melanin, which is responsible for dark pigmentation), Xanthophore (these cells contain carotenoids responsible for yellow or orange coloration), Iridophore (cells which can create iridescence or camouflage).
Learn more about Axolotl colors at PetMD.
2. Where Do Axolotls Live? Discover Their Endangered Habitat in Mexico
Axolotls are endangered salamanders that exist in only one spot on Earth, Lake Xochimilco and its surrounding waterways, in Mexico City. What's even weirder is that they were first native to Lake Chalco, but it got drained to prevent flooding.
The reduction in water levels in Xochimilco and the introduction of predatory fish species have only led to a further decline of the Axolotl population. In an interview with CNN on the Mexican Salamander's endangered status in their natural habitat, Dr. Luis Zambrano, a zoology professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, talked about how the water quality affected axolotls.
He said,
The problems started at the beginning of the last century. All of our aquatic animals suffer with bad water quality, but amphibians suffer more because they have to breathe with the skin.
Read more at CNN.
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The ancient Aztecs consumed axolotls as part of their diet. Dr. Ortiz de Montellano, Bernard R.'s publication titled Aztec Medicine, Health, and Nutrition, explained why the Aztecs feasted on the Mexican salamander. He said, "The Aztecs ate practically every living thing that walked, swam, flew or crawled, including... a large variety of fish, frogs... fish eggs, water beetles and their eggs, and dragonfly larvae, all obtained from the lakes in the Basin." Another researcher, Castelló Ytúrbide, explained how the Aztecs prepared the axolotls. He said, "Any hairs are cut off, the organs are removed, they’re then washed, salt is added, with strips of dried chillies. They’re laid out two by two on corn leaves, and are steam cooked."
Read more at Mexico Lore.
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| Chromatophores of a Brown Axolotl Larva — Credit |
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3. What Is Neoteny? Why Axolotls Never Grow Up
Axolotls are among the few animals on Earth to exhibit neoteny, a condition where an organism retains juvenile features into adulthood, meaning they never become full adults.
Some scientists suggest they never fully mature because their habitats do not dry up, an event that should trigger a metamorphosis, where they trade their tails for limbs as tadpoles do.
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The axolotl’s neoteny offers incredible potential for breakthroughs in regenerative and anti-aging medicine. Ongoing studies are actively exploring the exact mechanisms behind their unique ability to regenerate and whether those same traits could one day be applied to human healing and longevity.
Explore more about one of such regenerative studies at the National Library of Medicine.
4. Axolotl Regeneration: How They Regrow Limbs, Organs, and Even Parts of Their Brain
Axolotls have the unique ability to regenerate their lost body parts, a characteristic of salamanders. However, they take things up a notch, as some can regenerate parts of their brain.
The Mexican salamander's unique abilities have been an area of study for scientists, who believe humans can benefit from it. Cool to regrow one's brain, right?
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In a study about the axolotl's brain regeneration, a group of scientists at the Treutlein Lab at ETH Zurich and the Tanaka Lab at the Institute of Molecular Pathology in Vienna observed that the Mexican salamander regrew lost brain tissue in three phases. The first stage begins with a rapid increase in the number of progenitor cells. A small portion of these cells triggers a wound-healing process. In the second stage, the progenitor cells begin turning into neuroblasts. The third stage then finalizes the repair with the neuroblasts turning into the neurons lost in the injury.
Read more on the findings in the World Economic Forum.
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| Karyotype of the Ambystoma mexicanum — Credit |
5. Do Axolotls Eat Their Siblings? The Dark Side of Axolotl Cannibalism
'Aww, what a cute Axolotl,' some might say. However, beneath the cuteness lies a dark secret: Cannibalism. Young Axolotls are opportunistic feeders who sometimes eat their siblings.
Some may bite off their siblings' limbs, which will eventually grow back. However, others, especially the bigger ones, eat their siblings completely. A dog-eat-dog world underwater.
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Young axolotls become cannibals when there is a scarcity of food and other resources. Though there is no direct link, cannibalism may be one of the factors that lead to the animals becoming cannibal morphs (wider jaws and square faces).
Read more about cannibal morphs on National Geographic.
6. Axolotl Camouflage: How These Creatures Blend In Like Underwater Ninjas
Besides being able to regrow lost limbs, Axolotls have another trick up their gills (You get it? Gills because, ahh... explaining a joke makes it unfunny). They can change their appearance to blend into their surroundings; this gives them a chance against predators.
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Some axolotls glow under blacklight, and that’s thanks to Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP). These glowing morphs were first created in labs, where scientists inserted a special gene that makes a protein fluoresce green. It was originally used to track genetic changes, but eventually, these glowing axolotls made their way into the private breeding world. Now, they’re surprisingly common and the lighter their skin, the brighter they glow.
Read more at PetMD.
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| Leucistic Axolotl Larva — Credit |
7. Axolotl DNA Secrets: Why They Have One of the Largest Genomes on Earth
Before the Lungfish's genome with 43 billion DNA strands was discovered, the axolotl was the record holder for the animal with the largest genome sequenced.
Their genome is 10 times larger than a human having only 32 billion DNA strands. Scientists studied the DNA of the axolotl in hopes of finding the secrets to their unique genome, and they discovered something remarkable—the overwhelming size is due to repetitive DNA. However, they still don't know what function the repetitive DNA has.
8. Are Axolotls Immune to Cancer? Here’s What the Research Says
As scientists dived deeper into Axolotl physiology, they made a remarkable discovery about cancer. The axolotl was 1000 times more resistant to the disease than mammals.
Their unique regeneration abilities were the key to their resistance, and scientists kept studying them.
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A research team led by Dr. Sarah Strauß, Head of the Kerstin Reimers Laboratory for Regenerative Biology at the Department of Plastic, Aesthetic, Hand, and Reconstructive Surgery at Hannover Medical School (MHH), discovered something remarkable: antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) found on axolotl skin don’t just fight off dangerous hospital superbugs like MRSA but also target and destroy tumor cells. These naturally occurring compounds, extracted from the axolotl’s slimy protective mucus, are showing serious potential as powerful alternatives to antibiotics and even cancer treatments.
Read more on Medizinische Hochschule Hannover.
9. How Endangered Are Axolotls in 2025? Shocking Numbers and Rescue Efforts
Unknown to people, there are estimated to be only about 1000 Axolotls left in the wild; this is an alarming situation for creatures that could be the key to so many medical breakthroughs.
Many animal groups are already working to protect the Axolotls and prevent them from extinction. However, if more government action isn't taken to protect them more efficiently, they could vanish.
10. How Axolotls Breathe: Switching Between Gills and Lungs Like Amphibian Superheroes
Even though they remain juvenile most of their lives, Axolotls can change their breathing mechanisms. If they stay in shallow waters for a prolonged period, they switch from gills to using lungs. However, if they remain in deeper waters, they use gills.
Talk of selective breathing. Who else wishes they could switch how they breathe? Living underwater for a day or two before returning to land would be cool.
Conclusion
That’s a wrap on these 10 fascinating axolotl facts. We hope you discovered something new and mind-blowing about these regenerating wonders of the water! Thinking of getting an axolotl as a pet? Which color morph would you go for—wild type, leucistic, or maybe even a glowing GFP? Let us know your favorite in the comments below!
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