Strange turtle species discharge urine through the mouth

Scientists have discovered a very interesting feature in Chinese soft-shell turtle. Accordingly, the mouth is the main way to help them excrete urine. With this strange ability, soft shell turtle can completely exist in saltwater environment.

Chinese soft amphibian (also known as three-legged with scientific name Pelodiscus sinensis ) is often found in swampy, brackish lakeside areas. Conducting a thorough research on soft shell turtles bought from Chinatown in Singapore, experts found that the reptile has a habit of drowning the head into the water, even though they breathe through the lungs like their babies. Terrestrial objects.

Usually, some fish species excrete urea - compounds mainly found in urine - through gills. The team speculated that soft-shell turtles were likely to release urea from their mouths when they wished their heads into the water, as they now saw a very strange part of the bearing-like shape suddenly protruding.

Chinese soft shell turtle Pelodiscus sinensis (Photo: Serene Lee)

On the other hand, the measurement of urea in soft-shell turtle urine by attaching a plastic tube to the back and keeping it in a dry box and then bringing out a puddle, they found that the reptile can soak the head under water. within a period of up to 100 minutes and about 50 times more urea than the back.

'We still know that kidneys are responsible for excreting urea in vertebrates, except fish. However, the results of this study contradict that popular notion when proving that the mouth is a major waste of soft shell turtle, instead of kidney , "Yuen Ip Kwong, a molecular physiologist at the National University of Singapore said.

Scientists surmise that saltwater environment is the cause of this phenomenon.'Drinking soft drinks is a way to help clean urea in the body. However, soft shell turtles are often found in brackish waters or even at sea , 'Ip Kwong added.

The details of the findings are presented in the issue yesterday (October 11) of the Journal of Experimental Biology.

Reference: Livescience