How do glands in a crocodile’s tongue help it survive in salty water?

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Illustration of an estuarine or saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) with its mouth open, showing scaly skin and powerful limbs, alongside a scale bar for size reference. — crocodile Estuarine, or saltwater, crocodile (*Crocodylus porosus*), found in brackish waters from Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, and Myanmar east to the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu and south to Australia.

Crocodiles that inhabit salty or brackish water environments, such as the estuarine crocodile, face the physiological challenge of maintaining internal salt balance while living in a high-salinity environment. To survive, these animals utilize specialized glands located in the tongue, which allow for the active excretion of excess salt from their bodies.1

By effectively removing these excess ions, the crocodile is able to regulate its internal osmotic concentration and prevent the harmful effects of salt accumulation that would otherwise impair cellular functioning. This adaptation is essential for species that may spend significant time in marine waters, enabling them to thrive in habitats where freshwater is not always available.21