ABILITY OF TAMMAR WALLABY (MACROPUS EUGENII MARSUPIALIA) TO DRINK SEA WATER

1. 1. The tammar, a small scrub wallaby inhabiting the semi-arid Abrolhos Islands, 40 miles off the mainland coast of Western Australia (between 28° and 29° S. latitude), can drink sea water (35∨) and maintain weight while eating dry food. 2. 2. Unacclimated tammars initially lose up to 10-15 per cen of their body weight, but soon stabilize weight loss and slowly regain weight. Acclimated animals maintain or gain weight. 3. 3. Plasma Na+ and K+ were maintained within the normal range. Suckling small pouched young survive. 4. 4. The renal concentrating ability of the tammar, and other aspects of its water metabolism, are compared with eutherian mammals capable of drinking sea water or equivalent NaCl solutions. Tammars can concentrate urinary electrolytes to a greater degree than the kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami). © 1968.