What lake system is the axolotl's last remaining native habitat?

The axolotl’s last remaining native habitat is Lake Xochimilco, more precisely the remnant lake-and-canal system in southern Mexico City. The species is the Mexican axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum.

Axolotls once lived in a broader network of freshwater lakes and wetlands in the Valley of Mexico. Their historical range included Lake Chalco and may have extended into larger lakes such as Texcoco and Zumpango. Drainage, urban growth, pollution, and the alteration of waterways eliminated most of that habitat, leaving Xochimilco as the species’ last natural stronghold.

Modern Xochimilco is largely a network of canals and wetland remnants rather than the extensive lake that existed historically. Its chinampa agricultural landscape—raised fields built in shallow water—preserves important wetland features, but the habitat remains severely degraded. Introduced carp and tilapia prey on axolotl eggs and young, while poor water quality further threatens wild populations.

A common confusion is Lake Chalco: it was part of the axolotl’s original habitat, but it is not considered the species’ last remaining native habitat. Captive axolotls are widespread in laboratories and aquariums, yet those populations do not replace a healthy wild population in Xochimilco.