Question

Birds, insects, and many reptiles excrete nitrogenous waste in the form of uric acid, which _____. is not very toxic compared to other nitrogenous wastes, but requires the loss of a lot of water with its excretion reduces water loss compared to other nitrogenous wastes, but is highly toxic is much more soluble in water than other nitrogenous wastes, but is energetically costlier than other nitrogenous wastes to synthesi reduces water loss compared to other nitrogenous wastes, but requires more metabolic energy to produce reduces energy use compared to other nitrogenous wastes, but is highly toxic to animals that produce it

Answer 1

Reduces water loss compared to other nitrogenous wastes but requires more metabolic energy to produce

Mammals excretes urea as the primary nitrogenous waste product. On the other hand birds, and reptiles excretes uric acid as the primary nitrogenous product. They are called uricothelics because they can convert ammonia to uric acid. Uric acid is a compound similar to purines. This is produced through a complex metabolic pathway thay cost high energy. However it has advantages such as reducing water loss.