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Chapter seven: Water balance
Table 7.1 Osmolality and concentrations in electrolytes and urea in plasma of marine mammals
Species
Sex
Osmolality
(mOsm/l)
Sodium
(mEq/l)
Chloride
(mEq/l)
Glucose
(mg/dl)
Urea
(mg/dl)
References
Seawater
1000
470
548
—
—
Human
275–290 135–145
98–108 80–110
8–20
Cetacea
Bottlenose dolphin
M 331 ± 11 153 ± 7 106 ± 9
—
—
Ridgway et al. (1970)
Bottlenose dolphin
F
335 ± 14 155 ± 7 110 ± 8
—
—
Ridgway et al. (1970)
Bottlenose dolphin
341 ± 9
154 ± 3
—
—
—
Ortiz and Worthy
(2000)
Pacific white-sided
dolphin
M 332 ± 9
157 ± 9 107 ± 9
—
—
Ridgway et al. (1970)
Pacific white-sided
dolphin
F
335 ± 13 153 ± 7 108 ± 8
—
—
Ridgway et al. (1970)
Killer whale
M 337 ± 17 155 ± 8 112 ± 7
—
—
Ridgway et al. (1970)
Short-finned pilot
whale
M 333 ± 15 149 ± 4 109 ± 9
—
—
Ridgway et al. (1970)
Dall’s porpoise
M
—
155 ± 9 107 ± 6
—
—
Ridgway et al. (1970)
White whale
325 ± 12 163 ± 8 114 ± 5 112 ± 20 115 ± 22 St. Aubin et al. (2001)
Amazon River dolphin M 315 ± 11 144 ± 5 102 ± 11
—
—
Ridgway et al. (1970)
Amazon River dolphin F
315 ± 15 142 ± 5
98 ± 6
—
—
Ridgway et al. (1970)
Finless porpoise
(Yangtze)
329 ± 7
153 ± 2 108 ± 3 139 ± 21 101 ± 19 Guo et al. (2014)
Finless porpoise (Bohai)
362 ± 15 156 ± 8 117 ± 8 149 ± 40 86 ± 19 Guo et al. (2014)
Fin whale
364 ± 29 164 ± 9 121 ± 14
—
146 ± 22 Kjeld (2001)
Sei whale
—
155 ± 1 117 ± 2
—
—
Kjeld (2003)
Pinnipeds
Harbor seal (mother)
F
318 ± 2
149 ± 1 107 ± 1
—
25 ± 2 Schweigert (1993)
Harbor seal (pup)
304 ± 2
144 ± 1
99 ± 2
—
20 ± 2 Schweigert (1993)
Harp seal
338 ± 2
162 ± 1 114 ± 1
—
—
Storepheier and
Nordøy (2001)
Harp seal
331 ± 1
150 ± 1 111 ± 1
—
—
How and Nordøy
(2007)
Northern elephant seal
(pup)
304
147
107
—
—
Ortiz et al. (2003)
South American fur seal
 325 ± 3
169 ± 4
77 ± 7
—
31 ± 16 Schweigert (1993)
South American fur seal
336 ± 14 149 ± 6 119 ± 5
—
68 ± 14 Le Bas (2003)
South American sea
lion
329 ± 9
173 ± 4
90 ± 2
—
10 ± 1 Schweigert (1993)
Steller sea lion
—
149 ± 2 111 ± 2
—
—
Rosen et al. (2004)
Sirenia
West Indian manatee
(FW)
298 ± 2
147 ± 2
89 ± 2
—
—
Ortiz et al. (1998)
West Indian manatee
(SW)
314 ± 3
159 ± 4 102 ± 3
—
—
Ortiz et al. (1998)
West Indian manatee
311 ± 6
151 ± 4
89 ± 4 83 ± 29 14 ± 4 Medway et al. (1982)
Sea otter
—
152
105
—
126
Costa (1982)
Note: Seawater and human values are provided for comparison and reference.