You may have come across axolotls – those smiling amphibians with pink, plume-like gills – in pet stores, as plush toys, or even featured in video games. Yet, their growing presence in popular culture ...

Axolotls have become especially prevalent in youth culture, partly because younger people find them "incredibly cute," Monaghan says. "They're pink, they have feathers," but aren't birds.

In 2024, a set of images purportedly showing giant axolotl-like creatures circulated online. Two of the images showed men holding the pink-skinned animal — which appeared roughly the same size ...

Axolotls are peculiar pets known for their frilly gills and cute little smiles. However, these aquatic amphibians are more than just an appealing appearance. Their history, behaviors, and ...

The axolotl, Mexico's adorable salamander known for its baby-like features and remarkable healing abilities, is racing against time. "In 1998, there were 6,000 axolotls per square kilometer," says ...

Last year, it was the axolotl that took pride of place on many products, and the endangered amphibian remains popular. Owls, hedgehogs, foxes and sloths also had recent turns in the spotlight.

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. The capybara – a South American relative of the guinea pig -- is the latest in a long line of “it ...