No, Mexican axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum) do not always survive without water throughout their entire lifetime. They are amphibians that live in aquatic environments and require water to maintain their skin's moisture and perform vital physiological functions. Here's a little more on this:
Respiratory Needs: As adults, axolotls primarily breathe air through their lungs, but they also use their skin as a supplementary respiratory surface. Drying out can impede their ability to breathe effectively.
Hydration: Their skin needs to stay wet to prevent desiccation, which can be fatal.
Feeding and Digestion: Axolotls hunt and consume prey while in water, and their digestive processes are also dependent on an aquatic environment.
Reproduction: Breeding occurs in water, and the larvae develop in an aquatic setting.
While they have some capacity to move on land if needed, axolotls are not adapted to live long-term out of water. Their biology and life processes are deeply intertwined with the need for a moist or fully submerged environment. Efforts to conserve this species in captivity often involve carefully replicating these natural conditions to ensure their health and survival.