The Axolotl

Look how cool this axolotl is!
Photo: Pinterest

An axolotl is one of the strangest animals on earth. It is an amphibian that is born as larva. Although it gets bigger, it never goes through metamorphosis, or changes into an adult, so it looks like a larva for its entire life. Axolotl (ak-suh-lot-uhl) comes from an old Aztec word meaning "water servant." These creatures are very rare, and only live in one lake near Mexico City, Mexico. 

Axolotls have small legs and feet and a long tail. They have a dorsal fin that runs from its head to its tail, and under the tail to its back legs. Because it never develops lungs, axolotls have frilly gills on the sides of their heads which they use to breathe. Axolotls born in the wild are usually gray, green or black, but ones in tanks are usually pale pink. These animals are carnivores and eat worms, insects and small fish.

Cool Fact: If an axolotl gets hurt, it can regrow body parts, and can even replace a leg, eye, lung, tail or part of a heart!