False Statement About Avian Salt Glands

Which is NOT true about salt glands (nasal glands) in birds?

Correct Answer: They are absent in ostrich & penguin

This is NOT true. The correct statement is: salt glands are PRESENT in ostrich and penguin (and in ducks, geese, and other seabirds).

What Are Avian Salt Glands?

Salt glands (also called nasal glands or supraorbital glands) are accessory osmoregulatory organs found in birds, particularly seabirds and waterfowl that consume salty water or marine prey.

Key Facts About Avian Salt Glands

• Located above or near the eyes (supraorbital position) — secrete salt solution through nostrils
• Secrete concentrated NaCl solution — more concentrated than kidney can produce
• Serve an extrarenal osmoregulatory function — TRUE
• Are active only when there is a salt load (e.g., after drinking seawater) — TRUE (inactive in freshwater birds or low-salt diet)
• Present in ostrich, penguin, ducks, geese, albatrosses — the statement claiming they are absent is WRONG

Example

Marine birds like albatrosses and penguins drink seawater — their salt glands excrete the excess salt, protecting them from dehydration despite drinking brine. Without these glands, seawater consumption would be lethal.