Which group of organisms exhibits uricotelism, excreting nitrogenous waste primarily as relatively insoluble, non-toxic uric acid pellets to conserve water?

Answer and explanation

Correct answer: B. Reptiles, birds, land snails, and insects

  1. Step 1: Animals excrete nitrogenous wastes as ammonia, urea, or uric acid depending on water availability.
  2. Step 2: Uric acid is the least toxic and least water-soluble nitrogenous waste.
  3. Step 3: Animals living in arid terrestrial environments (such as reptiles, birds, land snails, and terrestrial insects) convert toxic ammonia into uric acid, which can be precipitated and excreted as a semi-solid paste or pellet with minimal water loss (uricotelism).
Answer
Reptiles, birds, land snails, and insects
Why not the others: 'Mammals, adult amphibians, and marine cartilaginous fishes' are ureotelic, excreting urea in aqueous urine; 'Aquatic insects, bony fishes, and tadpoles...' are ammonotelic, excreting highly soluble ammonia directly into surrounding water; 'Freshwater protozoans...' excrete ammonia via simple diffusion.

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