poikilosmoticadj.
/ˌpɔɪkɪlɒzˈmɒtɪk/, U.S. /pɔɪˌkɪlˌɑzˈmɑdɪk/, /ˈˌpɔɪkəlˌɑzˈmɑdɪk/ Zoology.
Of an animal: that allows the concentration of dissolved substances in its body fluids to vary with fluctuations in that of the surrounding medium. Opposed to homoiosmotic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > internal organs and systems > [adjective] > that maintains solute level > that allows concentration of solute to vary
poikilosmotic1905
1905 Biol. Bull. 8 262 All of the marine invertebrates which we have worked with are truly ‘poikilosmotic’. Two factors may be at work in producing the variations in the osmotic pressure, viz., the interchange of water, and of salts.
1953 E. Palmer tr. S. P. Ekman Zoogeogr. Sea vi. 118 The marine invertebrates were until recently considered to be poikilo-osmotic.
1971 Biol. Abstr. 52 5434/1 Poikilosmotic animals are actually slightly hyperosmotic as against their external medium in the normal circumstances of the animal's existence.
1988 Compar. Biochem. & Physiol. B. 90 843 The osmolality of the extracellular fluid is periodically reduced for euryhaline poikilosmotic species.
Derivatives
ˌpoikilosmoˈticity n. rare = poikilosmosis n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > animal body > general parts > internal organs and systems > [noun] > maintaining level of solute > allowing level to vary
poikilosmoticity1935
poikilosmosis1939
1935 Proc. Linn. Soc. New S. Wales 60 244 A ‘law of poikilosmoticity’ is by no means applicable to all marine invertebrates when the surrounding water is of lower salinity than ordinary sea-water.
1955 J. R. Elkinton & T. S. Danowski Body Fluids ii. 50 In many invertebrates the poikilosmoticity is only relative and..steady states are maintained with respect to both total osmolarity and individual ionic levels.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1905