Hey guys, I'm more a regular to the herp health forum, but when reading the Mader text I thought this to be interesting enough to share.
While not mentioning a specific pH, crocodilians are said to have the lowest pH of any vertebrate (or highest acidity). This is so much so, as the production of hydrochloric acid draws so much CH- from the blood plasma, that an electrolyte imbalance occurs (to much "loose" Na ions) and the pH of the blood becomes basic. This is known as the alkaline tide. This is clinically significant because electolytes are measured in ill animals to assess the progress of the animal. Blood pH is also supposed to not waiver from a neutral 7, so the crocs may give the clinician a big surprise.
Cheers,
Ian
