When Axel, a young axolotl, gets separated from his family by ancient magic it’s up to him and Memo, an unlikely human ally, to get him out of the Cenote he’s trapped in and back to his home.

Axolotls are one of science’s most studied animals. Why, you ask? These extraordinary salamanders are masters of regeneration: they can flawlessly regenerate body parts ranging from amputated limbs and crushed spines to parts of their eyes and brains. So, how do they do it? And what other secrets are they keeping? Luis Zambrano explores the baffling biology of the axolotl.

Through a choral diversity of testimonies, the documentary explores the myth of the axolotl, transporting us from the story of a chinampero whose lifestyle reflects the environmental decay of Mexico City, to the efforts of a group of scientists racing against the consequences of the extinction of our symbols and ecological heritage.

"The Amblystoma: Curious Salamander From Mexico". Vintage French educational film from 1913 describing the Axolotl. Very impressive footage for the time.