Stenohaline

Stenohaline is a big word that scientists use to describe animals that can only tolerate a very narrow range of salt levels in the water they live in. Think of it like Goldilocks and the three bears - some animals need their water to be not too salty, not too freshwater, but just right!

For example, if you’ve ever had a pet fish, you know that different fish need different types of water. If you have a saltwater fish like a clownfish, you can’t just put it in a bowl of tap water because it won’t survive. That’s because clownfish are stenohaline - they need water with specific levels of salt to live.

Other animals that are stenohaline include coral, shrimp, and some types of snails. They can only live in water with specific levels of salt, and if the water becomes too salty or too freshwater, they can get sick or even die. It’s important for scientists and aquarium keepers to pay attention to the water they use for these animals so they can live happy, healthy lives!