The Mexican Salamander, also known as the AXOLOTL (7 letters), is an aquatic species of salamander native to Mexico. It is a neotenic species, meaning it retains its larval features into adulthood, and is the best-known of the axolotls. It is found in lakes and canals in and around Mexico City, and is critically endangered in the wild due to urbanization and water pollution. In captivity, it is widely kept as a pet and is used in scientific research.