Question

Which one is uricotelic?

• A. Frogs and toads
• B. Lizards and birds
• C. Cattle, monkey and man
• D. Molluscs

Answer 1

The correct option is B Lizards and birds

Uricotelic organism excretes uric acid or its salts as a result of deamination. It is a common method seen in birds, land reptiles, insects, land snails and some land crustaceans.

Uric acid is formed from ammonia mostly in the liver and to some extent in the kidneys. The process is highly energy dependant, but is much less toxic than both ammonia and urea and it is almost insoluble in water and can be eliminated from the body in nearly a solid state, saving a lot of water. Since kidneys can handle the nitrogenous wastes only in solution, reptiles and birds pass a dilute solution of uric acid into the cloaca, where water is absorbed and solid uric acid is eliminated along with faeces. The faecal matter of certain birds like cormorants, pelicans and gannets called guano has been used for the commercial extraction of uric acid.