Mexican salamander.
Larvae of this species fail to undergo metamorphosis, so the adults remain aquatic and gilled; the gills are external and appear feathery.
As of 2020, the axolotl was near extinction due to urbanization in Mexico City and consequent water pollution, as well as the introduction of invasive species such as tilapia and perch. It is listed as critically endangered in the wild, with a decreasing population of around 50 to 1,000 adult individuals, by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) and is listed under Appendix II of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
The Pokemon called Wooper (ウパー Upah) is based on this creature.