Is it just me or does this little guy look exactly like a Jim Hensen creation?  Complete with wacky hair, round white eyes and fixed, manic smile.  Even it's pose looks like it was caught dancing mid-air, the strings barely visible.  It is actually a small species of Salamander, which is sadly endangered, and thesimilarities to the fun-loving, underground dwelling creatures in Fraggle Rock end with it's looks.

The Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a small animal which belongs to the Tiger Salamander complex. The larvae of this species don’t undergo a full metamorphosis into an adult form, so the older Axolotls remain aquatic andgilled rather than becoming true amphibious Salamanders. However, they are capable of transforming into complete adult form on rare occasions through certain experimental and environmental conditions, although this severely shortens their life span and and is not known to occur naturally in the wild.

 

The creatures don’t have scales and claws, but have forelimbs, hind limbs, and long tails. They have slender, supple bodies and the moist, smooth skin of salamanders.   Their 'hair' is actually gill stalks, which help the Salamander to absorb oxygen from the water. 

An axolotl sexually matures between 18 and 24 months and averages nine to 12 inches long. They look a little like aliens as they have wide heads with no eyelids and have four different colors including pale pink with black eyes and albino. They are relatively popular aquatic pets in places such as the US and UK, but if you are considering getting one of these remarkable animals you should be aware that an axolotl lives on average 10 to 15 years.

 

The axolotl only live in Lake Xochimilco in central Mexico and feed on worms, insects, and small fish. The creatures don't have functioning teeth,  and eat by sucking food into their mouths and swallowing. They hunt food by smell, then snap at their prey and suck their meals into their stomachs with vacuum force. Because of this, they eat anything smaller than themselves, including other axolotls.

 

The species’ population has been threatened due to the growth of Mexico City,  which has led to the drainage and destruction of their natural habitats. The animals are also eaten in Mexico, considered quite a delicacy in some cultures. They are currently listed byIUCN as critically endangered in the wild because of their shrinking population.

 

The species are often used for scientific research due to their many remarkable characteristics .  Axolotls are used in many types of studies, but the most amazing feature is its healing ability as the species can regenerate entire lost appendages over a period of months. Some have even restored damaged parts of their brains. They can also receive transplants from each other, including eyes and brain parts. They have even been known to heal a damaged limb while also regenerating a new one! 

It's not surprising why scientists are so eager to discover their secrets, as such regenerative powers could mean life saving breakthroughs for humankind.