In Mexico City, axolotl salamanders are everywhere before the World Cup — except in the wild

MEXICO CITY, June 8 : One of the first things visitors arriving in Mexico City for the World Cup are likely to see is the wide grin of an axolotl, with the salamander unique to this part of the world splashed in bright purple on murals and subway cars or depicted in sculptures dribbling a soccer ball.

Named after the Nahuatl word for "water monster," the axolotl (pronounced ah-sho-LO-tul) has become the unofficial mascot as the city gears up to host five World Cup matches, including the competition opener on Thursday.

But despite the undoubted cuteness of the almost otherworldly axolotl, the use of its image has drawn backlash from many Chilangos - as Mexico City residents are known - who say the poppy portrayal of the critically endangered animal is being used to distract from both the infrastructure problems of the capital and its lack of conservation efforts.

Scientists trying to count axolotls in the wild say they have not seen a single one in two years, and a campaign against what has been dubbed "axolotlization" has unleashed a wave of internet memes in which Godzilla-like axolotls rampage around the city.

The Mexico City government did not respond to requests for comment.

Ernesto Velazquez, 19, who runs an axolotl-themed stand selling cuddly toys in Chapultepec park, told Reuters he hopes the newly painted images around the city can drive more interest in conservation.

"Some foreigners have asked if you can eat them - well no, they're at risk of extinction," he said. "I hope the World Cup will help people learn more so we take better care of them."

A DISAPPEARING HABITAT

For centuries, Ambystoma mexicanum, an amphibian that remains living in water through its life cycle, thrived between chinampas - farms built on