Axolotls live exclusively in a small lake complex near Mexico City. Axolotls live exclusively in a small lake complex near Mexico City. These animals had great cultural importance in Aztec mythology, with the name axolotl (Nahuatl: atl, “water” and xolotl, “monster,” aquatic monster) coming from the god Xolotl.

The axolotl can completely regenerate lost limbs and injured tissues. This medical marvel is helping scientists unlock the secrets of stem cells. Axolotls are critically endangered in the wild and near extinction, but luckily, they are easily bred in captivity.