MEXICO CITY — Legend has it the axolotl was not always an amphibian. Long before it became Mexico’s most beloved salamander and efforts to prevent its extinction flourished, it was a sneaky god.

The axolotl, so you should know why it's so important there. The axolotl is not just an amphibian; it's a figure deeply rooted in Nahuatl mythology, associated with the god Xolotl. With its death ...