What is "salt gland"

n. a specialized gland, located near the eyes or nose of certain marine animals that secretes a liquid having a high salt content; it enables the animal to drink seawater without having to eliminate the excess salt through the kidneys

The salt gland is an organ for excreting excess salts. It is found in elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, and skates), seabirds, and some reptiles. Sharks' glands are found in their rectum, birds' and reptiles' in or on the skull in the area of the eyes, nostrils or mouth. These glands are lobed containing many secretory tubules which radiate outward from the excretory canal at the center. Secretory tubules are lined with a single layer of epithelial cells. The diameter and length at which these glands are vary depending on the salt uptake of the species.

Salt glands maintain salt balance and allow marine vertebrates to drink seawater. Active transport via sodium-potassium pump, found on the basolateral membrane, action moves salt from the blood into the gland, where it is excreted as a concentrated solution.