Yes, some sea animals do drink water, but it's not as simple as you might think for all of them.
How Sea Animals Hydrate
Unlike land animals that typically need to drink freshwater to survive, sea animals face a unique challenge: their bodies are constantly exposed to saltwater. Drinking large amounts of seawater would actually dehydrate many species due to the high salt content.
Experts now believe that many of these creatures drink seawater only occasionally. Instead, they have evolved fascinating ways to get the water they need. They often obtain low-salt water from:
- The food they eat: Many marine animals get sufficient water from their prey or the plants they consume.
- Metabolic processes: Some species can produce water internally as a byproduct of breaking down food.
When they do drink seawater, various animals have adaptations to handle the excess salt, such as specialized glands or kidneys that filter out and excrete the salt.
Examples in the Ocean
Different types of sea animals have varying strategies:
- Marine Mammals: Animals like whales and dolphins generally get most of their water from their food. As the reference notes, Whales, for example, have specialized kidneys but need far less water than land mammals. While they may occasionally ingest seawater, it's not their primary source of hydration.
- Fish: Most saltwater fish actually drink seawater and excrete the salt through their gills or kidneys. Freshwater fish, conversely, do not drink water and absorb it through their skin and gills.
In summary, while many sea creatures primarily get water from food or internal processes, some, like most marine fish, drink seawater regularly, and others, like many marine mammals, drink seawater only occasionally, according to expert beliefs.
