The Water Balance in Marine Mammals

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Abstract
The literature relating to water balance is reviewed. The available data indicate a blood freezing point depression of about 0.69[degree]C. Whole blood Na, Ca, and Cl concs. are somewhat higher than in land mammals. Most urinary total salt concs. are in the range of 16 to 32 g/1 with many at 29 g/1; urea concs. are normal. Estimates of expected urinary salt concs. are made from the composition of vertebrate and invertebrate foods, assuming no water intake other than that in the food. Those marine mammals which subsist largely on vertebrates have no special problem of salt elimination; whereas those living on invertebrates probably have a special mechanism for the reduction of urinary salt cone.

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