What mechanism allows penguins to drink seawater efficiently?
Answer
Supraorbital glands filter excess salt, which is excreted via the beak.
Penguins possess specialized structures known as supraorbital glands, often referred to as salt glands, located just above their eyes. These glands are essential for survival in a marine environment as they actively filter out the excessive salt absorbed through their diet of fish and squid from their bloodstream. Once concentrated, the resulting brine solution is excreted from the body, typically exiting through the beak in a rapid process often described as a quick sneeze or drip.
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