What physiological challenge results from the *H. platurus* consuming saltwater fish in the open ocean?
Answer
Constant salt intake requiring specialized excretion management
The consequence of living in the ocean and subsisting on a diet overwhelmingly dominated by marine fish is the constant ingestion of high levels of salt. This necessitates a highly efficient physiological mechanism to manage the resulting salt load and prevent hypernatremia. The snake manages this through specialized glands located in its mouth that actively process and excrete excess sodium chloride. If the snake's diet were to shift away from these saltwater marine fish, the function and regulation of this complex salt-processing adaptation would become compromised, demonstrating the tight integration between diet and physiological function.
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