Scientists have estimated that there are 8.7 million animal species on Earth. Some of these are fierce (lions, sharks, tigers). Some are adorable (rabbits, deer, otters).
And others are, well, really weird.The axolotl salamander manages to be at once adorable and kind of disturbing.
Though it develops legs, it never reaches land, instead spending its time strolling the underwater surface. Its nickname? Walking fish.
This extraordinary creature – which comes in colors ranging from creamy white to olive – is only native to Mexico. Your best chance of seeing one exists near Mexico City in the lakes of Xochimilco.
A population decline is largely attributed to habitat loss, but is also due to the fact that the axolotl is considered a culinary delicacy. (Yum?)