Salt gland

Have you ever seen videos or pictures of penguins or seagulls swimming and diving in the ocean for hours and hours? How do you think they drink water when they are surrounded by saltwater? That's where the salt gland comes in!

The salt gland is a special organ found in the heads of certain sea animals, like penguins, seagulls, and sea turtles. It helps these animals get rid of excess salt from their bodies, which they take in when they drink saltwater or eat salty foods.

The salt gland works like a filter. It takes in the salty fluids from the animal's bloodstream and separates out the excess salt, which it then excretes from the animal's body as a concentrated salt solution, kind of like pee. This leaves behind clean water that the animals can use to hydrate themselves and regulate their body temperature.

Without the salt gland, these animals would need to drink pure water constantly to prevent dehydration from the saltwater they consume. But thanks to this amazing organ, they can live and thrive in salty marine environments without getting sick or dehydrated.

So, remember, if you ever spot a penguin or seagull drinking seawater, don't worry! They have a super-powered gland to take care of all the excess salt for them.