Mole salamanders are member of the genus Ambystoma. They are a group of animals that live in North America. They are the only genus in the family Ambystomatidae. The Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) is a popular exotic pet. They are also used in research. The Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum) is an official amphibian of many US states. They are also sold as pets.