Question

Sea Water has an osmolarity of up to 1.0 osmol/L, which is still much higher than the osmolarity of sea-snake red blood cells. It is hypothesised that if sea-snakes were to drink sea-water, then in order to keep the NaCl levels in their body at acceptable levels, sea-snakes must have the ability to:

PICK ONE AND EXPLAIN WHY

1) absorb extra NaCl into their blood

2) excrete extra NaCl.

Answer 1

option2: they excrete the extra Nacl

REASON:

• First of all experiments suggests that sea snakes donot drink sea water. They go by freshwater ( high rainfall areas, near shore for springs etc) sources to satisfy their water requirements
• Coming to the question, If at all sea snakes drink sea water, they excrete the excess salt present in their body using their salt glands ( as per physiology textbooks reffered so far)
• These glands are present under their tongue, they work to excrete out salt while the snakes drink water.
• This the mechanism used by sea snakes to quench thirst if fresh water sour e is not available
• They DONOT have a mechanism in which the blood absorbs the extra Nacl