1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Biology
  4. Some animals excrete uric acid in urine (uricotelic) as it requires very little water. This is an adaptation to conserve water loss. Which animals among the following are most likely to be uricotelic?

Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. Some animals excrete uric acid in urine (uricotelic) as it requires very little water. This is an adaptation to conserve water loss. Which animals among the following are most likely to be uricotelic?

KVPYKVPY 2012

Solution:

Birds and reptiles convert ammonia to uric acid, which is even less toxic than urea. In fact, uric acid does not need any water at all, they can excrete it as a solid and conserve as much water as possible. Thus, they are uricotelic. Mammals, amphibians and fishes are ureotelic animals.