Question

An advantage of excreting nitrogenous wastes in the form of uric acid is that

• A. Uric acid can be excreted in almost solid form.
• B. The formation of uric acid requires a great deal of energy.
• C. Uric acid is the first metabolic breakdown products of acids.
• D. Uric acid may be excreted through the lungs.

Answer 1

The correct option is A Uric acid can be excreted in almost solid form.

Terrestrial adaptations necessitated the production of lesser toxic nitrogenous wastes like urea and uric acid for conservation of water. Mammals, many terrestrial amphibians and marine fishes mainly excrete urea and are called as ureotelic animals. Ammonia produced by metabolism is converted into urea in the liver of these animals and released into the blood which is filtered and excreted out by the kidneys. Some amount of urea may be retained in the kidney matrix of some of these animals to maintain a desired osmolarity. Reptiles, birds, land snails and insects excrete nitrogenous wastes as uric acid in the form of pellet or paste with a minimum loss of water and are called as uricotelic animals. These animals can excrete uric acid as solid crystals to conserve water.