Just curious as to why fish and other sea creatures that live in salt water are not overly salty when ingested? I would think they would absorb most of the salt they live and breathe in.
Edit: added the word overly
In: Biology
[removed]
Homeostasis is required in all living cells between salt and water. This allows the cells to perform many functions. Too much salt and all the water will be pulled out of the cells to try to maintain this balance and the cells will die of dehydration.
Saltwater fish are able to expel excess salt in their urine and secrete it through their gills in order to maintain this balance.
Water concentration inside a fish is higher than in the ocean itself because the ocean is so salty. As a result, most saltwater fish constantly lose water through their gills and skin. To get rid of excess salt, the fish’s kidneys pump lots of salt into its urine.
tldr; they piss it out
Latest Answers