Uric acid crystals

[Maygyver]

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I remember reading lately about modes of excretion and can't remember what types of animals use uric acid crystals as a mode of excretion. I know birds use uric acid but it is in more a paste form.

 

[MrBeans]

Organisms that need to conserve water will secrete uric acid crystals.

In addition to birds, I know some insects use this mode of elimination, for example, grasshoppers.

btw, when's your test?

 

[akeurogh]

I remember reading lately about modes of excretion and can't remember what types of animals use uric acid crystals as a mode of excretion. I know birds use uric acid but it is in more a paste form.

Hey I just read that Arthropods secrete nitrogenous wastes as uric acid crystals. This is an adaptation for the conservation of water.

 

[dentalWorks]

everything mentioned is true so far.

My 2009 destroyer has a few questions that relate to this very topic (which organizms excreate uric crystals)

 

[Maygyver]

Ah ok. I though insects/arthropods is what I was remembering reading. Thanks!

 

[dentalWorks]

Here is something I picked up from wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uric_acid

In birds and reptiles, and in some desert dwelling mammals (e.g., the kangaroo rat), uric acid also is the end product of purine metabolism, but it is excreted in feces as a dry mass. This involves a complex metabolic pathway that is energetically costly in comparison to processing of other nitrogenous wastes such as urea (from urea cycle) or ammonia, but has the advantage of reducing water loss

 

[akeurogh]

quick question. Do we have to know the urea cycle in detail??