Axolotls

Salamanders with feathery external gills extending from their heads; about the size of a teacup
Seem to have a permanent smile on their face; seem to continue in the baby stage of the life cycle
Studied by scientist because they can regrow arms and legs and even parts of their brains
Axolotl genome is 10 times human genome at 32 billion base pairs
Taken from Mexico City to a zoo in Paris in 1860s and spread around Europe
Ones we see around internet – the pink or white ones are descendants of those few axolotls taken to Paris; wild axolotls are greyish or dark brown
1.8 billion views on social media TikTok with #axolotl
Mexico city’s official emoji and currency
Illegal to own in some US states
Critically Endangered animals on the verge of extinction
Connected to Aztec god of fire and lightning – Xolotl

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