Question

Are marine mammals osmoconformers or osmoregulators?

Answer 1

Osmoconformers:

1. Organisms that maintain their internal salinity similar to their external environment.
2. They remain in an osmotic balance with their environment.
3. Examples- seagrass, marine invertebrates-star fish, jellyfish, etc.

Osmoregulators:

1. Organisms that maintain a constant salinity internally, irrespective of their external environment.
2. Examples- Human beings and most vertebrates.
3. Marine mammals are osmoregulators, except sea lions & some species of seals.
4. Examples of marine mammals that are osmoregulators include whales, dolphins, etc.