Assertion (A): Marine fish maintain osmotic balance by drinking large amounts of seawater. Reason (R): Marine fish excrete excess…

Question

Assertion (A): Marine fish maintain osmotic balance by drinking large amounts of seawater.

Reason (R): Marine fish excrete excess salt through specialized cells in their gills to prevent dehydration.

1. A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A. (Correct answer)
2. B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
3. C. A is true, but R is false.
4. D. A is false, but R is true.

Correct Answer

Option A — Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A..

Key Points

• Marine teleost fish are hyposmotic to seawater - they lose water by osmosis and compensate by drinking seawater (A is true).
• They then excrete excess salt through chloride cells in gills (R is true).
• R correctly explains the mechanism of osmotic balance.