Despite its status in the wild, the axolotl is one of the most widely used and studied animals in laboratories and aquaria around the globe.
Despite its precarious status in the wild, throughout the world, the axolotl is a familiar sight in laboratories and aquaria. They are one of the most widely used and studied laboratory animals.
Animals were originally collected in 1863 for the Natural History Museum in Paris, and many of today’s captive animals probably stem from these founders.
As well as being a popular pet, the axolotl is extensively used in medical research because it possesses remarkable biological traits that distinguish it from other vertebrates.
Sources: (Bagnara, Armstrong, & Malacinski, 1989; Griffiths, Bride, et al., 2004; Majchrzak, 2004; Smith, 1969)
Image: Henry Mühlpfordt
