No, axolotls cannot live their entire lives without water. As an aquatic species native to Mexico, they require water for the following reasons:
Respiration: They primarily breathe through gills while in water, which is essential for their respiratory processes.
Hydration: Their permeable skin needs to be kept moist to prevent dehydration, which can be life-threatening.
Thermoregulation: Axolotls rely on water to regulate their body temperature and maintain the appropriate conditions for their metabolic processes.
Feeding: They are predators that hunt and consume invertebrates and small fish, which usually occurs in their aquatic environment.
Reproduction: Mating and offspring development take place in water.
While they can survive briefly out of water due to their ability to absorb some oxygen from the air, their long-term survival is not possible without a proper aquatic habitat. Axolotls need a suitable aquatic environment with clean water, the right temperature, and adequate humidity to thrive and live a healthy life.