Aquarium welcomes rare amphibians

Axolotls are able to re-grow lost limbs and tails

An aquarium in Sussex has celebrated the arrival of a rare breed of amphibians.

The aquatic salamanders, known as axolotls, were recently classified as "critically endangered" in Mexico.

In 2008 the animals were listed on the International Union for Conservation of Nature's annual Red List of threatened species.

It is the first time the creatures have bred successfully at the Hastings Blue Reef Aquarium.

Sophie McGachy from Blue Reef said: "All the babies are doing extremely well. We're monitoring them in a special nursery tank."

In the wild, the axolotls are only found in the ancient water systems around Mexico City.

They have the ability to re-grow lost limbs and tails and re-generate dead or damaged brain and heart cells.