Question

Write short notes on Uricotelism

Answer 1

Elimination of uric acid as the main nitrogenous waste material is called uricotelism. Animals showing uricotelism are called uricotelic animals.

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 dependent 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.