This story ran in the April 2016 issue of National Geographic magazine. More than 20 million years ago a salamander hatchling less than three-quarters of an inch long met a traumatic end.

The salamander is based on a real Mexican lizard but it is also a creature of mythology with an ability to survive and extinguish fire, which made it an appropriate talisman to wear on board a ...

Axolotl (pronounced ah-sho-LO-tul) salamanders have an impressive ability ... damaged parts of the heart after a heart attack. Many lizard species such as the green iguana and bearded dragon ...