The axolotl (pron.: /ˈæksəlɒtəl/; etymol. Nāhuatl āxōlōtl [aː'ʃoːloːt͡ɬ] (singular) or āxōlōmeh [aː'ʃoːloːmeʔ] (plural) "water monster") or Mexican salamander (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a neotenic salamander, closely related to the tiger salamander. Larvae of this species fail to undergo metamorphosis, so the adults remain aquatic and gilled. It is also called ajolote [ɑːhɒˈlɔte] (which is also a common name for different types of salamander). The species originates from numerous lakes, such as Lake Xochimilco underlying Mexico City. Axolotls are used extensively in scientific research due to their ability to regenerate limbs.
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