axolotl

American  

[ak-suh-lot-l] / ˈæk səˌlɒt l /

noun

• axolotls
  plural

1. any of several salamanders of the genus Ambystoma that inhabit lakes and ponds of Mexico and remain in the larval stage as sexually mature adults.

---

axolotl British  

/ ˈæksəˌlɒtəl /

noun

1. any of several aquatic salamanders of the North American genus Ambystoma, esp A. mexicanum ( Mexican axolotl ), in which the larval form (including external gills) is retained throughout life under natural conditions (see neoteny ): family Ambystomidae

2. any of various other North American salamanders in which neoteny occurs or is induced

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• axolotls
  plural

Etymology

Origin of axolotl

1780–90; < Nahuatl āxōlōtl, equivalent to ā ( tl ) water + xōlōtl page, male servant

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

axolotl axolotls

For Helena Nicoleti, 8, who wore a T-shirt featuring a capybara drinking bubble tea to the zoo, seeing Kiwi was a highlight, along with the lion and the Mexican axolotl.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

"This significant research brought together three labs, working across three organisms to compare regeneration," said Wake Forest Assistant Professor of Biology Josh Currie, whose lab studies the Mexican axolotl salamander.

From Science Daily ● May 9, 2026

"Many times, scientists work in their silos: we're just working in axolotl, or we're just working in mouse, or just working in fish," Currie said.

From Science Daily ● May 9, 2026

Fellow axolotl owner, Kerry Allen, 40, from Dorset, has had Kev for several years.

From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2026

This may be also true of some of those instances that have occurred among frogs, in Proteus, and with an axolotl once possessed by the present writer.

From The Project Gutenberg Encyclopedia Volume 1 of 28 by Project Gutenberg

The aquarium has helped more than 3,300 trafficked animals, including corals, reptiles, fish and axolotls.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 28, 2026

Scientists studying axolotls, zebrafish, and mice have uncovered a shared set of genes that could someday help researchers develop therapies for regrowing human limbs.

From Science Daily ● May 9, 2026

Without the gene, axolotls were unable to properly regenerate limb bones.

From Science Daily ● May 9, 2026

Director Chris Newman said there were no recorded sightings of Mexican axolotls in the world or the UK, adding that Evie probably saved its life.

From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026

From this early common centre have been developed, apparently, in one direction the fishes, and in another the amphibian tribes of frogs, newts, salamanders, and axolotls.

From Charles Darwin by Grant Allen