Axolotls lived happily for a long time in Lake Texcoco, overlooked by the smouldering volcano, ... Jazwares now makes 30 kinds of axolotl Squishmallow and puts them on t-shirts, ...

An axolotl swims around in an aquarium at a museum in Xochimilco Ecological Park, in Mexico City, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) ...

The axolotl (pronounced ah-SHO-lohtl) is hurtling toward extinction, just as it becomes globally familiar with a cottage industry using its image to sell beer, T-shirts and videogames.

Nine-year-old Noora Speed discovered axolotls from Minecraft. Since then, Noora, who lives in Vancouver, has become obsessed. She has axolotl stuffies, an axolotl Lego set, even an axolotl nightlight.