Meet the axolotl. It is a kind of salamander. It is an amphibian.

Axolotls come from lakes and wetlands. These are in southern Mexico City. That is in Mexico.

An axolotl lives in the water for its whole life. It has feathery gills. They are on the outside of its head. They help it breathe underwater.

An axolotl has a tail with a fin. It can reach about 12 inches long.

Wild axolotls are mostly dark. Some are black. Some are brown or gray.

Axolotls hide in mud and plants all day. They are active at night.

An axolotl eats worms and small fish. It catches food by sucking it in.

A female axolotl lays eggs on plants or rocks. She can lay up to about a thousand.

The eggs hatch after about two weeks. Young axolotls get no care from parents.

Here is one more thing to know. An axolotl can regrow a lost leg.

Words to know

• amphibian: animal group
• gills: breathing parts
• hatch: leave the egg
• regrow: grow again