Kids' hub Level 1 · Junior Explorer · Lesson 1
Meet the axolotl
What is an axolotl, anyway? Not a fish! Find out what makes this smiling water creature so special.
Name: ______________________ Date: ______________
Say hello to the axolotl (say it like this: AX-oh-lot-ul). It looks a bit like a fish and a bit like a little dragon, but it is actually a salamander — a kind of amphibian, like frogs and newts.
The animal that never grows up
Most salamanders start life in the water, then climb out and live on land. Axolotls are different. They stay in the water their whole lives and keep their fluffy gills forever. Scientists call this staying-young trick neoteny. It means an axolotl is a bit like a grown-up who still looks like a baby!
That famous smile
Axolotls look like they are always smiling because of the shape of their wide mouths. They are not really smiling (they don’t have face muscles like ours), but it is one of the reasons people love them so much.
How big do they get?
A grown axolotl is usually about as long as a ruler — 25 to 30 centimetres. They can live for 10 to 15 years with good care, so an axolotl is a long-time friend, not a short visit.
Ask a grown-up to help you find a video of a real axolotl swimming. Count how many gill feathers you can see on each side!
The quizzes, the exams, the learning companion and the certificates are free for members — a parent or guardian signs in and adds the child's first name.