Author:
Cheng Yuan-Cheng,Tu Ming-Chung,Tsai Jyuan-Ru,Lin Hui-Chen,Lin Li-Yih
Abstract
Abstract
Background
The three species of amphibious sea snakes (Laticauda semifasciata, L. laticaudata, and L. colubrina) in Taiwan were described as having different habitat affinities from terrestrial to marine. In this study, the osmoregulatory capabilities of three species were compared to test if their capabilities were associated with different habitat affinities.
Results
The sea snakes were transferred from a terrestrial environment to freshwater (FW) or seawater (SW) for 1 week, and then, Na+/K+-ATPase (NKA) activities of the salt gland (sublingual glands) and kidneys, the water content of the muscles, the body fluid osmolality, and Na+, Cl−, and K+ concentrations were measured. Results showed that the body fluid osmolality, Na+ and Cl− levels, and muscle water content of most marine species, L. semifasciata, remained relatively constant, and the NKA activity of its salt gland was approximately threefold higher than those of L. laticaudata and L. colubrina. In both L. semifasciata and L. laticaudata, NKA activities of the salt glands were higher in SW than in FW; however, no significant change was found in L. colubrina (the most terrestrial species).
Conclusions
This study suggests that the NKA activity of the sublingual gland is associated with salt excretion, and the three species possess different osmoregulatory strategies which are associated with their habitat affinities.
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Animal Science and Zoology
Cited by
2 articles.
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