Most axolotls in the wild are a mix of brown, black, gray, and green, a coloring known as “wild type.” Axolotl gills are often depicted with vibrant colors, but that’s not always the case.

green, lavender, gold, mosaic, white, brown, gray, and black. These options will vary based on where they were bred. Most axolotls in the wild have more muted colors for safety reasons.

According to Mori, many pink- and white-colored axolotls distributed in Japan and elsewhere have been genetically modified for ornamental purposes. Wild ones are typically dark-colored.