The Family Ambystomatidae, commonly known as mole salamanders, is a group of amphibians within the order Caudata (salamanders). They are mostly found in North America and are characterized by stout bodies, broad heads, and well-developed limbs. Many species are fossorial, spending much of their time underground and emerging primarily to breed in ponds or vernal pools. Ambystomatids are mostly carnivorous, feeding on insects, worms, and other small invertebrates. Notable members include the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), which exhibits neoteny, retaining juvenile features such as gills into adulthood. This family is ecologically important for controlling invertebrate populations and serves as a key model in developmental biology and regeneration studies.