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Table of Contents:

Ch. 1 Osmotic Problems of Vertebrates 1
1 Geographical and Ecological Distribution of the Vertebrates (Osmotic Distribution) 1
2 The Osmotic Anatomy of the Vertebrates 4
3 Osmotic Exchanges with the Environment 8
4 Forces Affecting Exchanges of Water and Solutes 9
5 Transporter Proteins Involved in Solute and Water Movements Across Cell Membranes 12
6 Biological Structures Participating in Fluid Exchange 20
7 Relationships of Nitrogen Metabolism to Osmoregulation 39
8 Osmoregulation and the Evolution of Vertebrates 41
Ch. 2 The Vertebrate Endocrine System 45
1 Endocrine Function 45
2 Osmoregulatory Hormones 57
3 Mechanisms of the Hormonal Regulation of Water and Salt Across Epithelial Membranes 78
Ch. 3 The Mammals 85
1 General Introduction 85
2 Osmoregulation 86
3 The Monotremes (Egg-Laying Mammals) 97
4 The Marsupials (Pouched Mammals) 98
5 The Placental Mammals 105
Ch. 4 The Birds 113
1 Water Loss 116
2 Conservation and Excretion of Salts 122
3 Conservation of Water and Salt by the Cloaca and Large Intestine 126
4 Sources of Water and Salts 128
5 Reproduction, Migration and Osmoregulation 130
6 Osmoregulation and Hormones in Free-Living Birds 132
Ch. 5 The Reptiles 133
1 Water Exchanges 137
2 Salt Exchanges 144
3 Accumulation of Water and Salts 151
4 Reproduction and Osmoregulation 152
Ch. 6 The Amphibia 155
1 Water Exchange 163
2 Salt Exchange 173
3 Nitrogen Metabolism 181
4 Reproduction 182
5 Accumulation of Water and Salt 184
Ch. 7 The Fishes 187
1 The Piscine Endocrines 190
2 Water Exchanges 197
3 Salt Exchanges 206
4 Nitrogen Metabolism and Osmoregulation 220
5 Osmoregulation and the Endocrines of Sharks and Rays 221
6 The Hagfish 228
References 233
Index 285