Information about Supraorbital Gland
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Magellanic penguin
The supraorbital gland is a type of lateral nasal gland found in some species of marine birds, specifically penguins, which converts saltwater to freshwater. It functions similarly to a kidney. The term supraorbital refers to the area just above the eye socket (which is known as the orbit of the eye.)
Living in saltwater environments would naturally pose a large problem for penguins because the ingestion of saltwater would be detrimental to a penguin's health. Although penguins do not directly drink water, it is taken in when they engulf prey. As a result, saltwater enters their system and must be effectively excreted. The supraorbital gland has thus enabled the penguins' survival in such environments due to its water-filtering capability. The gland is located just above the eyes and surrounds a capillary in the head. This capillary constantly strains out the salt in the saltwater that a penguin takes in. Since the byproduct of the gland has roughly five times as much salt as would normally be found in the animal's fluids, the supraorbital gland is highly efficient.
The penguin excretes the salt byproduct as a brine through its bill. Often, the fluid drips out, and this gives the appearance of a runny nose. However, the fluid may also be sneezed out. In the absence of saltwater, caused by captivity, the supraorbital gland will lie dormant as it has no other purpose. Having a dormant supraorbital gland does not negatively affect the health of a penguin.
See also
Salt glandExternal links
Sphenisciformes
Sharpe, 1891
Family: Spheniscidae
Bonaparte, 1831
Modern genera
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Sharpe, 1891
Family: Spheniscidae
Bonaparte, 1831
Modern genera
- Aptenodytes
- Eudyptes
- Eudyptula
- Megadyptes
- Pygoscelis
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In anatomy, the orbit is the cavity or socket of the skull in which the eye and its appendages are situated.
It can also mean the skin which surrounds the eye of a bird.
In the adult human, the volume of the orbit is 30 ml, of which the eye occupies 6.5 ml.
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It can also mean the skin which surrounds the eye of a bird.
In the adult human, the volume of the orbit is 30 ml, of which the eye occupies 6.5 ml.
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Seawater is water from a sea or ocean. On average, seawater in the world's oceans has a salinity of ~3.5%, or 35 parts per thousand. This means that every 1 kg of seawater has approximately 35 grams of dissolved salts (mostly, but not entirely, the ions of sodium chloride: Na
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predation describes a biological interaction where a predator organism feeds on another living organism or organisms known as prey.[1] Predators may or may not kill their prey prior to feeding on them.
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Excretion is the process of eliminating waste products of metabolism and other non-useful materials.[1] It is an essential process in all forms of life.
In single-celled organisms, waste products are discharged directly through the surface of the cell.
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In single-celled organisms, waste products are discharged directly through the surface of the cell.
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capillary is used to describe any very narrow tube or channel through which a fluid can pass. See capillary action for details.
Capillaries are the smallest of a body's blood vessels, measuring 5-10 μm, which connect arterioles and venules, and are
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Brine is water saturated or nearly saturated with salt (NaCl). It is used (now less popular than historically) to preserve vegetables, fish, and meat. Brine is also commonly used to age Feta cheese.
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The beak, bill or rostrum is an external anatomical structure of birds which, in addition to eating, is used for grooming, manipulating objects, killing prey, probing for food, courtship, and feeding their young.
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A sneeze is a semi-autonomous, convulsive expulsion of air from the lungs.
Sneezing occurs when a particle (or sufficient particles) passes through the nasal hairs and reaches the nasal mucosa.
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Sneezing occurs when a particle (or sufficient particles) passes through the nasal hairs and reaches the nasal mucosa.
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The salt gland is an organ for excreting excess salt. It is found in elasmobranchs, marine birds, and some reptiles. In sharks, salt glands are found in the rectum, but in birds and reptiles, they are found in the skull, in the area of the eyes or nostrils.
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