Q. Which among the following is the only vertebrate osmoconformer?

 1356  179 Delhi UMET/DPMTDelhi UMET/DPMT 2004 Report Error

Solution:

Osmoconformers are those organisms whose body is is oosmotic i.e., osmotic concentration of internal environment and surrounding sea water are approximately equal. There is no net tendency for water re move in or out of the body in osmoconformers. Among vertebrates hagfishes are osmoconformers. Elasmobranches and coelocanths are also osmoconformers which have tissue fluids osmotically close to sea water but this is due to elevated level of the urea circulating in the blood. Salt glands are found in sea water drinking birds to excrete the salt from body.