This is an adult male melanoid albino axolotl, the Mexican Salamander. This animal is just over 10 inches (25 cm) in length. This species doesn't become a true adult (other salamanders change into land-living animals, losing their gills). Instead, it breeds in its "larval" form. Unlike mammals and most animals, albino salamanders in their pre-metamorphosed form are not "white", rather they are yellow. This is due to the stratification of the skin. However, this animal is also homozygous (sorry for the genetics) for the melanoid trait, which results in a near absence of yellow pigment, hence why this animal is white.

This image has been published four times:

In October 2003 in "Salamander und Molche" by Kurt Rimpp (ISBN: 3800138174). Kurt's book is available from good German bookshops and Amazon.de by clicking here.

In March 2004 in "Albino Animals" by Kelly Milner Halls (ISBN 1-58196-012-3). It's available in all good bookshops and from Amazon.com by clicking here.

In September 2004 it was published in "Animal Physiology: From Genes to Organisms" by Lauralee Sherwood, Hillar Klandorf and Paul Yancey (ISBN 0-53455-404-0). It's available in scientific bookstores and online at Amazon.com by clicking here.

In 2005/2006 it has been published in the "Life on Earth" series by Gerald Audesirk, Teresa Audesirk and Bruce Byers. As far as I am aware, it is in the paperback version and it is also on the accompanying CD. Various editions of "Life on Earth" are available from Amazon.com.

If you would like to learn more about axolotls, have a look at http://www.axolotl.org. There are a lot more of my photos there too (it's actually my site).