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Do fish drink water?

By Snake

Question submitted by Emily, age 8, Rochester, NY

 

The answer to your question differs, depending on whether we are talking about saltwater fish or freshwater fish!

Freshwater fish do not actively drink water, but absorb the water through their skin and gills. On the other hand, saltwater fish do actively drink sea water. Their gills process the water and take out the salt.

The salmon is an interesting example of a fish that lives in both fresh and salt water, and consequently, they have the characteristics of both types of fish. Salmon are born in fresh water, and migrate to the ocean. While living in the ocean, they drink saltwater by opening their mouth; their gills then rid their bodies of the salt and minerals. When the salmon enters freshwater streams to spawn (lay eggs), they stop drinking the water and instead absorb it through osmosis. (Osmosis means that the water passes through the cells of the fish's skin into its body.)

Animals have curious ways of obtaining the water that they need. The kangaroo rat, for example, doesn't look for water to drink. Instead, it collects seeds that it stores in its den; it uses them to plug up the entrance to the den. The seeds absorb moisture from the surrounding soil. When the rat eats the seeds, it receives all the water it needs!

Here is a website you might find helpful: Yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/animals/fishes

 

Kids can submit nature questions to Snake and Newt by clicking here to complete the form.