Final answer:
Reptile and bird salt glands are specialized organs used to excrete excess salts from the body. Sea turtles have glands producing salty tears, while crocodilians have salivary glands on their tongues. Birds conserve water by excreting concentrated urate salts and possess pneumatic bones to aid in flight.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reptile and bird salt glands function as a specialized system for excreting excess salts. For sea turtles, these glands are located near their eyes, producing 'salty tears' that channel excess salt away from the body. This adaptation allows them to maintain a proper electrolyte balance despite often living in or consuming saltwater. Similarly, crocodilians such as crocodiles and gharials have salivary glands on their tongues for salt removal. This is crucial for life in a saltwater environment, and when they gape (lie with their mouths open), it may also assist with salt excretion as well as thermoregulation.
Birds have their own unique ways of managing salt and water balance. Due to the lack of a urinary bladder and the presence of a cloaca, birds reabsorb water from waste and excrete uric acid instead of urea. This concentrated urate salt is then expelled with fecal matter, conserving water and reducing body weight which is advantageous for flight. Their pneumatic bone structure further aids in reducing weight for easier flying.