can axolotls completely live without water during their entire lifetime

No, axolotls cannot completely live without water during their entire lifetime. They are aquatic creatures that belong to the family Ambystomatidae and are closely related to salamanders and newts. To understand why they need water, let's look at some key aspects of their biology:

1. Respiration: As larvae, axolotls breathe exclusively through gills. As adults, they have the ability to breathe air through their lungs, but they still need to keep their skin moist to facilitate cutaneous respiration (respiration through the skin).

2. Habitat: Axolotls are found in freshwater environments in the wild, specifically in certain canals and lakes in Mexico. Their natural habitat is water-based.

3. Skin Hydration: Axolotls have permeable skin that needs to be kept moist in order to prevent desiccation and maintain proper respiration and overall health.

4. Diet: They primarily consume aquatic prey, such as worms and small fish, which they would not be able to find or catch without water.

5. Reproduction: Axolotls reproduce in water, laying eggs in a gelatinous mass that floats on the water's surface. The larvae must also develop in an aquatic environment.

6. Temperature Regulation: Water helps axolotls regulate their body temperature, which is essential for their metabolic functions.

While axolotls may be able to survive for brief periods out of water, especially if their skin remains damp, they absolutely require a water-based environment to maintain their health and carry out their life processes. Keeping axolotls in a well-maintained aquarium with clean, dechlorinated, and appropriately temperature-controlled water is crucial for their survival.