Axolotl

Axolotls are native to Lake Xochimilco and Lake Chalco, adjacent to Mexico City. These incredible salamanders exhibit a trait called neoteny, meaning they never develop adult characteristics but instead retain their gills, fins and other larval characteristics throughout their life. Rather than developing into land-dwellers, like most salamanders, axolotls spend their entire lives in the water.

Even more amazing, axolotls can regenerate their limbs and organs perfectly, without any scarring. They can do this as many times as necessary in as little as three weeks! Read more about these uniquely adorable creatures, and why their regenerative abilities are of interest to medical research, on our blog.