“Axolotl” is a specific species of aquatic salamander, although the name is mistakenly and erroneously used to refer to other species.
Larvae of other ambystomids, such as the larval stage of the tiger salamander, Ambystoma tigrinum, are often erroneously referred to as axolotls. The name axolotl should be used only when referring to Ambystoma mexicanum and not to any other ambystomid salamander.
Historically, the Mexican axolotl has been listed under more than 40 different names and spellings; all, except Ambystoma tigrinum, have been rejected by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN).
Sources: (Bagnara, Armstrong, & Malacinski, 1989; Brunst, January 1955, November 1955; Majchrzak, 2004; Smith, 1969)
Image: John Clare
