Known for its flamboyant, feathery external gills, the axolotl is a type of salamander native to the canals and lakes in Mexico City. The species is critically endangered in the wild, where most of the native waterways have been degraded by pollution or invasive species – but in captivity, the species is thriving. Worldwide, more than 1 million axolotls are kept as pets and in laboratories, where they are studied for their amazing regenerative capabilities. The species can regrow almost any part of its body: gills, eyes, parts of its brain, and even entire limbs.
