An organ for excreting excess salts. It is found in elasmobranchs, seabirds, and some reptiles.[WP]. [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_gland ]
Term information
- BTO:0001204
- Wikipedia:Salt_gland
- GAID:1235
- MESH:D012491
organ_slim, functional_classification
In sharks, salt glands are found in the rectum, but in birds and reptiles, they are found in or on the skull, in the area of the eyes, nostrils or mouth. In crocodiles, the salt is excreted through the tongue. Such glands work by active transport via sodium-potassium pump that moves salt from the blood into the gland, where it can be excreted as a concentrated solution. Salt glands function to keep salt balance, and allow marine vertebrates to drink seawater
Term relations
- gland
- confers advantage in some ENVO_00000447
- capable of some sodium ion homeostasis
- only in taxon some Vertebrata