The
mole salamanders (
genus Ambystoma) are a group of
salamanders endemic to
North America, the only genus in the family
Ambystomatidae. The group has become famous due to the presence of the
axolotl (
A. mexicanum), widely used in research, and the
tiger salamander (
A. tigrinum, A. mavortium) which is the official amphibian of many states, and often sold as a pet.