The Lake Pátzcuaro salamander exhibits some highly unusual and distinct features, indicative of its evolutionary distinctiveness, including its rare “neotenous” life history, whereby the species never develops into an adult but instead retains its juvenile characteristics throughout life, essentially achieving reproductive maturity whilst still in its undeveloped larval form. The salamanders are harvested both for human consumption and for medicinal purposes as they are thought to be effective in addressing respiratory problems. Known only from Lake Pátzcuaro (or Lago de Pátzcuaro) in north-western Michoacan, Mexico, it is crucial that this habitat is conserved to secure the future survival of the species.