Question:

Birds are Uricotelic, meaning they excrete nitrogenous waste primarily as:

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Remember the three excretory types and their water requirements:
- Ammonotelic: Excretes Ammonia (requires huge amounts of water, highly toxic).
- Ureotelic: Excretes Urea (requires moderate water, moderately toxic).
- Uricotelic: Excretes Uric Acid (requires almost no water, least toxic).
Updated On: Jun 3, 2026
  • Urea
  • Amino acids
  • Ammonia
  • Uric acid
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The Correct Option is D

Solution and Explanation

Step 1: Understanding the Question:
The question defines birds as "Uricotelic" and asks for the identity of the primary nitrogenous waste product they excrete.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:


• Metabolism of proteins and nucleic acids produces highly toxic nitrogenous byproducts that must be eliminated from the animal body. The three main waste products are ammonia, urea, and uric acid.

• Animals are classified into three major groups based on their primary excretory product: ammonotelic, ureotelic, and uricotelic.

• Uricotelic animals are those that primarily excrete nitrogenous wastes in the form of uric acid or its salts (urates).

• Examples of uricotelic organisms include birds, terrestrial reptiles, land snails, and insects.

• Uric acid is highly insoluble in water and is the least toxic of the three major nitrogenous wastes.

• Because of its low solubility and low toxicity, uric acid can be stored and excreted as a thick, semi-solid paste or pellet with very little water loss.

• This is an extremely important evolutionary adaptation for water conservation in animals that fly (such as birds) or live in dry, terrestrial environments, as it minimizes the weight of stored water in the body.

Step 3: Final Answer:

Uricotelic animals, including birds, excrete nitrogenous waste primarily as uric acid.
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