Anderson’s 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. This would be akin to a tadpole being able to breed without ever turning into a frog. The species is totally aquatic, spending its whole life in the same body of water (Lake Zacapu). This lake is currently suffering from pollution which poses a major threat to the survival of the species.