What’s the difference between a newt and an axolotl?

A newt is a salamander but not all salamanders are newts.

There are 9 different families of salamanders and the family Salimandridae contains all of the various newt species.

The axolotl is a member of the family Ambystomatidae, which includes many different types of mole salamander.

To lean more:

Zhang P, Wake DB. 2009. Higher-level salamander relationships and divergence dates inferred from complete mitochondrial genomes. Mol Phylogenet Evol 53: 492–508.

Maden M. Axolotl/newt. 2008. Methods Mol Biol. 461:467-80.

Fun Facts

Where is the axolotl from?

Only a few wild axolotls remain in Lake Xochimilco, Mexico, which is located near Mexico City

While axolotls once lived in Lake Chalco as well, this lake was drained in order to prevent flooding.

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