Upon closer inspection, I realized that it was the toy-maker's rendition of an honest-to-goodness, real-life creature from Mother Nature's menagerie. It was a plaything that depicted an axolotl.

In ancient Aztec tongue, the name 'Axolotl' translates to "water monster," and just as their name suggests, these creatures live their entire lives underwater using these adorable feather gills to ...

Now, it seems, they’re everywhere: in the form of plush toys, children’s books, fashion and decor. But the axolotl is only ... also known as the “water bear”), there are certain qualities ...

Overall toy sales rose 38% in that time. Consumers are seeking out increasingly exotic species that they see in online videos, games and movies. Highland cows, red pandas and axolotls, a type of ...