do mexican salamanders is a neotenic salamander

Yes, the Mexican axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a neotenic salamander.

Neoteny is a biological phenomenon where an organism retains juvenile features into adulthood. In the case of the axolotl, this means that under certain conditions, they can maintain their larval characteristics such as external gills and a cartilaginous skeleton throughout their lives, even when they reach reproductive maturity.

This retention of larval traits is unique among salamanders and is advantageous for living in their native aquatic habitats. The axolotl's neoteny allows it to continue living in water, avoiding the need to undergo metamorphosis to an air-breathing terrestrial form that many other salamander species undergo.

The ability to retain these juvenile features is influenced by environmental cues and hormonal signals. In the wild, axolotls may undergo metamorphosis if they encounter specific environmental triggers, such as changes in water temperature or availability of certain nutrients like iodine. However, in controlled environments like laboratories or aquariums, axolotls are often maintained in conditions that favor neoteny.

The neotenic nature of the axolotl has made it a valuable subject for scientific study, particularly in research on development, regeneration, and evolution.