Review and images by Suspsy; edited by bmathison1972
The axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a critically endangered salamander native only to Lake Xochimilco in southern Mexico City, Mexico. Only between 50 and 1000 individuals reside there, although there are many more being raised in zoos, research laboratories, and the pet trade. It is world famous for its unusual appearance and its even more unusual regenerative abilities. They can regrow not just their tails and their limbs, but also their central nervous system, eyes, and even parts of their brain.
The 2024 CollectA axolotl measures 9.5 cm long. It is sculpted with its limbs splayed out to the sides and its tail swaying to the right. The head is big and brachycephalic with tiny round eyes and a wide mouth firmly shut. Jutting out from behind the head are the famous external gills, six in total. The limbs are small and stout with large feet, the torso is tapering, and the tail is laterally flattened with dorsal and ventral fins.
True wild axolotls are coloured dark brown or grey with olive underbellies. This one, however, is a leucistic specimen, which is probably the one most people are familiar with. CollectA has cleverly made it out of translucent plastic and then painted it over in pale pink. The eyes are glossy black, the gills are magenta, and there are faint blue patches on the head and lines denoting the ribs. The fins on the tail have been left unpainted, thereby simulating the translucent appearance of a real leucistic axolotl’s tail. A cool glowing effect is achieved when the toy is held before a light, just like with the CollectA anglerfish.
The axolotl’s skin has a pitted texture all over, including on its fins. There are also faint grooves for the ribs and tiny holes for the nostrils. The gills have numerous fringes carved into them, but they’re nowhere near as frizzy-looking as the real thing. Really not feasible on a toy this size.
Overall, the CollectA axolotl is a great little toy, superbly sculpted, accurate, attractive, and unique. I’m looking forward to placing it in one of my sons’ stockings this Xmas.
With the 2024 Schleich fire salamander:
